The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Saturday warned the public that movie passes for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) are not for sale.
“Beware of people selling MMFF passes, especially online, because no one is allowed to sell them and make a profit,” said MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.
The MMDA recently arrested three people responsible for the online sale of MMFF complimentary tickets in an entrapment operation conducted with the help of the Quezon City Police.
The suspects sold 46 tickets illegally through Facebook at prices ranging from P1,300 to P1,500 each. The first transaction was done through online selling.
One of the suspects and the poseur buyer met up for the ticket last
Dec. 14 in Quezon City. However, the ticket was certified as fake by the Office of the MMFF Secretariat.
The entrapment operation was done to apprehend the first suspect who eventually revealed his cohort. Forty counterfeit tickets were intercepted. The two suspects later revealed the source of the MMFF tickets, who was subsequently apprehended.
“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.
The MMDA did not identify the names of the suspects, but it stated that they were charged with Falsification of Public Documents in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The culprits are now in the custody of the QCPD.
Artes urged the public not to patronize MMFF tickets sold online and instead report to the authorities any unlawful activities.
“Anyone who will be caught selling or buying complimentary tickets shall be sanctioned by the law,” he added.
The 49th MMFF edition was organized by the MMDA in partnership with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
For the first time, the MMFF will be showcasing 10 locally-produced films this year, with the aim of promoting and preserving Philippine cinema while proceeds from the festival will go towards various beneficiaries in the film industry.
The films including “A Family of 2 (A Mother and Son Story),” “(K)Ampon,” “Penduko,” “Rewind,” “Becky and Badette,” “Broken Heart’s Trip,” “Firefly,” “GomBurZa,” “Mallari,” and “When I Met You in Tokyo” will be screened from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7 in Philippine theaters.