MMDA warns the public about fake MMFF complimentary tickets

Three suspects were arrested in separate entrapment operations for allegedly selling fake complimentary tickets for the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras,” Tuesday, the suspects were selling the fake tickets for prices ranging from P1,300 to P1,500 despite having a “strictly not for sale” label.

“’Yung mga security features nitong ticket eh halos pareho din po sa original. Kung hindi po gagamitan ng scanner, hindi po machi-check kung ito ay fake or kung ito ay original po,” said PMAJ Fred Taran, Acting Chief of the Quezon City Police Department District Special Operations Unit.

[The security features of this ticket are almost the same as the original. Without the use of a scanner, it cannot be checked whether it is fake or genuine.]

The operation was initiated due to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) report that there has been an ongoing online selling of passes even if they haven’t officially released the passes yet.

According to the investigation of the District Special Operations Unit of the Quezon City Police, an alleged MMDA employee is identified as the source of the fake tickets. These counterfeit tickets were then distributed to a barangay official who is believed to be the contact of the three arrested suspects.

Police are also looking into information that suggests the fake passes originated from the printing office where the authentic complimentary tickets for the film festival are printed.

The MMDA would like to remind the public that not only those selling fake tickets are liable under the law but also those caught using them.

—CACM, GMA Integrated News