Man promised entry to Ocean Park loses P1.5K

AN OFFICIAL of a marine park has warned the public not to transact with anyone regarding entry to the facility, which will not open until later this year.

This after a man informed SunStar Cebu that he had been duped into paying for a tour inside the park by a person who claimed to be an employee.

“I think that’s the price you’ll pay if you don’t follow the right process. If you also check on the pricing of the said scammer, that’s not even our pricing,” said Hitish Sampat, Cebu Ocean Park general manager.

Cebu Ocean Park boasts the largest oceanarium in the Philippines. Seven meters deep, it also showcases a 360-degree viewing tunnel that houses thousands of marine species.

John (not his real name) said a certain Josias Ubal promised that John, his friend and the latter’s child could visit the park last Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, in exchange for P1,500.

“I would like to share it so that they could not victimize others,” John said.

He said they were excited to visit Cebu Ocean Park. During his search for its website, he came upon a cellphone number and contacted it. The man calling himself Ubal answered.

John said Ubal told him the park was not yet open to the public and that only invited guests, employees and their relatives could get inside. Ubal, however, offered to make an arrangement.

John said he was not sure if the website was the park’s official website.

John said Ubal told him they’d be allowed in if they disguised themselves as the latter’s relatives and for a price of P500 each.

He said they sent the payment to Ubal that day. He was then told to wait for a certain Jasper Mahusay, who would be their service crew, in front of the San Pedro Calungsod Church.

However, hours passed, but no “Jasper Mahusay” showed up.

“We were very happy with the arrangement since my friend’s child really wanted to go to the ocean park. But honestly, I doubted at first. When I asked if I could just give the payment to Mahusay in person, he did not agree and insisted that it should be sent to him. However, we decided to push through with what was planned,” he said.

When they tried to contact Ubal on the latter’s cellphone, he could no longer be reached.

John sent SunStar Cebu a copy of their phone transaction, including a receipt for the payment he had made to a bayad center, addressed to Ubal.

SunStar Cebu also tried to contact Ubal through the numbers provided by the victim, to no avail.

Sampat said they would look into the matter.

“We do not have any idea about this. We are not yet open and I don’t think that such persons have the access to our official website. Moreover, Cebu Ocean Park is not selling tickets yet, and will not sell tickets outside the park. Our tickets are coded,” he said.

He will also check if they have an employee named Ubal.