Gatchalian eyes changes to SIM registration law

Widespread use of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) for fraud and scamming is making Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to consider certain amendments to the SIM  registration law. STOCK PHOTO OF SIM CARDS

MANILA, Philippines — Widespread use of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) for fraud and scamming has prompted Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to consider certain amendments to the SIM  registration law.

Among the amendments he wants to introduce to the law are limiting the number of allowed SIMs registered per user and regulating short message service marketing, promotional, political, or fundraising sent through the SIM.

“It is incumbent upon the government to safeguard unwary or unsuspecting Filipinos from any harm caused by fraudulent activities facilitated by cybercriminals, including POGO operations that serve as scam hubs to commit crimes,” Gatchalian said in a statement on Monday.

READ: Telco’s plea: Bust cybercriminals, not limit SIM card ownership

Signed in October 2022,  Republic Act 11934, or the SIM Registration Act, aimed to deter the use of SIM-related technology in various illegal or scamming activities.

Despite the enactment of the law, however, there has been a continued discovery of registered SIMs, cellphones, computers, and pocket Wi-Fi devices, especially in Philippine offshore gaming operations (Pogos), that are engaged in various forms of online scams, such as love scams and cryptocurrency scams, the senator said.

“These have been causing massive financial losses for unsuspecting victims,” added Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on ways and means.

READ: SIM registration ‘not silver bullet’ vs text scams, says NTC

The senator has already asked the Senate to investigate the use of the SIM in illegal Pogos.

Earlier, Gatchalian noted a sudden drop in scam text messages after a series of raids conducted by the police against illegal Pogos.

The same observation was made by Sen. Grace Poe after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the ban on all Pogos last month.

Still, Gatchalian raised the possibility that Pogos “may still operate clandestinely” despite the total ban.