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SIM ownership per person eyed
By Nidz Godino
“It is incumbent upon government to safeguard unwary or unsuspecting Filipinos from any harm caused by fraudulent activities facilitated by cybercriminals, including POGOs that serve as scam hubs to commit crimes,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, noting Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) may still operate clandestinely despite total ban with widespread use of SIM cards for fraud and scamming purposes, is considering introducing amendments to SIM registration law.
Gatchalian said despite measure’s enactment, law enforcers continue to find registered SIMs, cell phones, computers and pocket WiFi devices, especially in POGOs, used in various forms of online fraud, such as love and cryptocurrency scams.
These scams have caused massive financial losses to victims, Gatchalian said.
He underscored need to identify persons or organizations that enable unlawful use of registered SIMs in POGOs, to help legislators evaluate and strengthen relevant laws and policies, including possible introduction of amendments to SIM registration law.
Among amendments are limiting number of allowed SIMs that can be registered per user; regulating short message service (SMS) marketing and promotional, political or fundraising sent through SIMs.
Even with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’ directive to ban all POGOs in the country, Gatchalian said there is still need to address concerns about use of registered SIMs in illegal POGOs, facilitate money laundering, cybercrime and other scamming activities.
Gatchalian, chairs Senate ways and means committee, said Republic Act 11934, or SIM Registration Act signed into law in October 2022, aims to deter use of SIM-related technology in various illegal or scamming activities.
He earlier filed Senate Resolution 1054, seeks to investigate use of SIMs in illegal POGOs.
He noted that in raids conducted in POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga, law enforcers recovered numerous SIMs, along with hundreds of cellular phones and digital devices, used to execute fraudulent transactions.
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