K-pop girl group 2NE1 during the Seoul leg of their 'Welcome Back' concert tour, which will head to the Philippines in November. Photo from Sandara Park's Instagram accountMANILA -- A former senator, aiming to return to the upper chamber, called on Monday for an investigation into ticket scalping and the introduction of legislation to combat the practice.

Former Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan urged the actions in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), expressing concerns over ticket scalpers reselling passes for the upcoming concerts of K-pop girl group 2NE1 in Manila.

"Maraming Pinoy concertgoers ang binubudol ng mga scalpers at [itong] darating na concert ng 2NE1 nga ay binubudol na naman ang ating mga kababayan," he wrote.

(Many Pinoy concertgoers are being scammed by scalpers, and with the upcoming 2NE1 concert, our fellow Filipinos are being deceived again.)

"At dahil digital na rin ang pagbili ng tickets, kailangan na ring imbistigahan pati ang mga bot scalpers," he added.

(And since ticket purchases are now digital, there is also a need to look into bot scalpers.)

Pangilinan, who earlier this month filed a certificate of candidacy to run for senator in the 2025 elections, also proposed for legislation that would combat scalping.

"Ang ating iminumungkahing batas ay lilikha ng isang mas patas at mas bukas na merkado. Sa ganitong paraan, mapoprotektahan ang mga mamimili mula sa pagsasamantala," he said, though he did not give specifics on the proposed law.

(The proposed law will create a fairer and more open market. In this way, consumers will be protected from exploitation.)

The concert's organizers have yet to react to Pangilinan's statements.

2NE1, whose four members include former Philippine-based celebrity Sandara Park, is set to hold a two-day concert at the Mall of Asia Arena in November. Tickets for both days have sold out, according to promoter Live Nation Philippines.

The shows are part of the group's "Welcome Back" reunion tour, held in celebration of their 15th anniversary.

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