Wednesday, April 23, 2025

SIM card registration to deter crimes — solons

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THE enactment of the proposed mandatory SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card registration bill is foreseen to deter notorious individuals from engaging in mobile phone-related crimes.

The measure, which was recently approved by the House of Representatives, would serve as a disincentive to criminals, particularly those “involving acts of terrorism and acts aimed at propagating fear, panic, confusion, and even false information.”

Reps. Manny Lopez of Manila and Victor Yap of Tarlac, who are the primary authors of the bill, said that without a law requiring the disclosure of personal information prior to purchasing a SIM Card, it would be very “difficult, if not impossible, for government authorities to prosecute criminal acts arising from the use of mobile phones, as there are very limited means to identify the perpetrator.”

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In a joint statement, the two lawmakers said: “With the passage of the said House Bill, we now have the means to track and know the identity of persons who, thru the use of their mobile phones, commit illegal acts.”

Lopez is the author of House Bill No. 453 entitled “An Act Mandating the Cooperation of All Telecommunications Corporations, Internet Service Providers, and Social Media Networks in Creating an Efficient Identification Mechanism for the Deterrence of the Commission of Terrorist Activities and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof,” while Yap filed HBN 298 entitled “An Act Requiring the Registration of All Users of Subscriber Identity module Cards.”

The two proposed bills were consolidated into HBN 5793, or An Act Requiring the Registration of Subscriber Identity Module Cards or SIM Card Registration Act, which was approved on third and final reading late Monday afternoon.

“(O)nly when government agencies are able to pinpoint the root cause of this problem can they begin to hold certain individuals responsible for the commission of this crime. Without any means of identifying these anonymous texters and personalities behind the fake social media accounts, we will not be able to put a stop to this recurring criminal act,” Lopez said.

Under the House-approved version of the measure, the public telecommunication entity (PTE) or direct seller shall require the end-user of a SIM card to present valid identification with a photo to ascertain his or her identity.

The user will then be required to accomplish and sign a control-numbered registration form.

To protect one’s privacy, the measure includes a confidentiality clause prohibiting the disclosure of any personal information of the subscriber, unless upon subpoena or lawful order from a competent court or written request from law enforcement agency concerning an ongoing investigation.

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