Can Real Fans Finally Take Back Concerts From Bots, Scalpers, And Resellers?

For years, Filipino fans have been up against a tougher opponent than their Internet connection and crashing websites when buying concert tickets: scalpers. Ticket scalping in the Philippines has become increasingly aggressive, with resold tickets sometimes priced at up to 10 times (!) their original value.

To address this, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to intensify efforts against individuals and groups using automated bots to hoard concert tickets and resell them at highly inflated prices during a hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which he chairs.

While tackling the proposed measure on Anti-Scalping, also highlighted the need to strengthen measures on "bot detection systems, impose stricter purchase limits, and implement stronger identity verification processes."

"Yung pag-purchase ng tickets online gumagamit ng mga bots. So kung considered as cybercrime yun under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, meron kayong pwedeng kasuhan. Meron nang basis to proceed with at least investigating itong bot-enabled purchases," he said.

“All the more na mahalaga na protektahan natin yung mga consuming public—they go to great extents to be able to watch and enjoy these concerts. Tapos mangyayari sila ay sinasamantala,” he added, emphasizing the "oppressive and exploitative" nature of this practice.

Legal remedies remain limited when it comes to ticket scalping. Existing measures, such as Pasay City's Ordinance No. 192 S-1993, offer minimal protection, leaving consumers vulnerable. The Anti-Ticket Scalping Act was first filed by Senator Joel Villanueva in July 2025.

As of early 2026, the Philippine Senate has seen a number of proposals to curb ticket scalping: Senator Mark Villar's Senate Bill No. 2873 filed in late 2024; Senator Pangilinan's Senate Bill No. 226, and Senator Joel Villanueva's Senate Bill No. 556, both filed in July 2025.

According to a press release dated February 23, 2026, Senator Pangilinan's bill will be one of the key measures that the committee on justice "will discuss with resource persons and stakeholders."

"Mahigit isang taon na bago ang pagdating ng BTS at dalawang buwan bago ang concert ng SB-19. Nagkakandarapa ang mga ARMY at mga A’Tin sa paghahanap ng tiket na siya namang sinasamantala ng mga scalpers, scammers at kamadang sindikato," Senator Pangilinan said during the Senate committee hearing.

"Titindig tayo upang gawing mas matibay at lagyan ng ngipin ang batas para sa consumer rights ng sa gayon ay mapigilan ang panloloko, mapanagot ang mga nananamantala, at malayang ma-enjoy ng mga fans at consumers at ang viewing public audience ang kanilang mga iniidolo," he emphasized.

The bill also cited a study by Visa, which ranked the Philippines among the top four concert spenders in the Asia-Pacific region at 38%.

"This intense eagerness for live events translates into consistently high ticket demand, from blockbuster concerts that sell out in minutes to highly anticipated basketball and volleyball matches, and popular theatrical productions," the bill stated.

To address the growing problem, the measure seeks to penalize both the selling and buying of admission tickets from unauthorized sellers. It also includes a provision imposing penalties on those who resell tickets at more than 10% above their original price.

The proposed law covers not just concerts but any "event, occasion, occurrence or activity that provides amusement or recreation organized by persons, which are open to the public and involves the distribution of admission tickets." These include sports shows, concerts, stage performances, beauty pageants, festivals, road shows, and fan meets.

Under the proposal, penalties start at P100,000 or six months of imprisonment for a first offense and may reach up to P500,000 or imprisonment of more than three years for subsequent violations.

As early as 2024, the Senator Pangilinan had already raised concerns about ticket scalping, particularly during the 2NE1 concert in the Philippines, where numerous seats reportedly remained vacant despite many fans being unable to secure tickets.

"Panloloko ang scalping. Pipila ka nang mahaba. O maghihintay ka online. Tapos wala na palang ticket o napakamahal na. Kawawa naman ang mga fans," the Senator said.

"Kawawa rin ang mga artists kung di sila mapapanood ng fans nila o kung nabudol ang mga fans ng scalpers. Kaya yung iba ay nanonood abroad. Sayang ang perang sa Pilipinas na sana ginagastos, sa ibang bayan pa napupunta," he added.