Beep card hoarders, resellers face arrest

MANILA, Philippines — Unauthorized online sellers of Beep cards used for rail transit in Metro Manila will be arrested and e-commerce platforms could be charged for failing to act against the illegal trade, according to the Department of Transportation.

The DOTr’s crackdown on Beep card hoarders and resellers has led to the arrest of Cateleen Ann Dumondong Manalo.

Manalo allegedly sold Beep cards on Facebook Marketplace for up to P300 each, compared to its official price of P30.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon presented Manalo to the media yesterday following her arrest in Pasig by the police Anti-Cybercrime Group.

ACG director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said charges have been filed against Manalo for violating the Access Devices Regulation Act, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

“Manalo will face jail time, especially if she refuses to cooperate and reveal her associates and backers,” Dizon said.

Online platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, TikTok, Facebook and Carousell will receive letters from the DOTr requesting the removal of merchants illegally selling Beep cards.

Non-compliant platforms may face legal action, according to Dizon.

He said hoarders buy multiple Beep cards from automated ticket vending machines at train stations and resell these at inflated prices.

Purchasing more than two tickets at once could raise suspicion and trigger an investigation, Dizon said.

Closed-circuit television cameras are being installed at train stations to prevent hoarding, he said.

As for “Beep charms” or key chains sold online, AF Payments Inc., operator of the Beep system, has confirmed that no such products have been released.

The campaign against Beep card hoarders and resellers is part of President Marcos’ directive to stop the illicit trade, which had caused supply problems at train stations, Dizon said.

Dizon assured commuters that the supply is now stable following the delivery of 300,000 Beep cards to Metro Rail Transit Line 3, Light Rail Transit Line 1 and LRT-2.

As for traffic violations, Dizon disclosed that the government is considering publicizing offenders’ names to strengthen road discipline.

The Land Transportation Office has issued 2,008 show-cause orders in the last six months, with 420 licenses revoked, Dizon said.