Logo of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2023. Image from MMFF
Three individuals were arrested for illegally selling complimentary tickets for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday.
According to the MMDA in a statement, the three individuals were arrested in an entrapment operation conducted with the help of the Quezon City Police District–District Special Operations Unit.
A total of 46 tickets were discovered to have been sold illegally through Facebook at P1,300 to P1,500 each.
One of the suspects was arrested after a poseur buyer met with him for the ticket on December 14 in Quezon City.
His arrest led to the apprehension of another suspect he identified as his cohort.
During an interrogation, the two then revealed their source of the MMFF tickets who was also apprehended later.
The three suspects have already undergone inquest procedure and will be charged with Estafa through Falsification of Public Documents in relation to R.A 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. They are now in the custody of the police.
With this, MMDA acting chair and concurrent overall MMFF chairman Don Artes condemned the act of using the MMFF as a “business venture” by selling complimentary tickets.
“These passes are strictly not for sale and no persons or groups are authorized to distribute them for sales or any profiteering purposes,” said Artes.
“With this unfortunate incident, I urge the public not to patronize MMFF tickets sold online and instead report to us these unlawful activities,” he added.
The official then warned that those who will be caught selling or buying complimentary tickets shall be sanctioned in accordance with the law.