MANY bad things are happening in the online community, using the latest technologies available in the internet, and people have become inured to shenanigans as they fall victim to various scams.
Reports of financial and other fraudulent schemes have swamped the police, the National Bureau of Investigation, Congress, and local government units but it seems nothing is being done about it. Even the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and other regulators are ineffective in stemming the tide of fraud.
But when the senators themselves become victims of these scams, the whole Senate is abuzz with remedial legislative measures. This week, senators expressed concern over the growing cases of text scams after they, too, became targets of messages bearing their names.
‘The ongoing proliferation of scam messages all the more gives Congress a reason to pass a law on SIM registration, but the members of the 19th Congress should do it right this time to avoid another presidential veto.’
Senate majority leader Joel Villanueva said the problem “not only brings up trust issues against the telecommunications companies but… all other firms to whom we give our personal data.” Sen. JV Ejercito said he, too, had received such scam messages, as he expressed support for the enactment of laws requiring the registration of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards. Sen. Nancy Binay filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the fraudulent activities online, even as a House panel has approved a consolidated bill on the required registration of SIM cards.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, meanwhile, delivered a privilege speech, citing several instances of scammers reaching out to him to solicit funds. According to the senator, one such scammer claimed to be Batanes Vice Gov. Ignacio Villa, while another claimed to be Rep. Leo Rodriguez of Catanduanes. These calls and text messages were all fraudulent, he said.
“It is very saddening to realize that the mobile number I am using for my official functions has now fallen into the hands of fraudsters,” he lamented.
Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services, said she would aim this year to pass the SIM card registration bill and also hold an inquiry into the proliferation of scam messages.
This particular measure had been passed by the 18th Congress but was vetoed last April by then President Rodrigo Duterte because of the inclusion of social media providers in the proposed registration. Another more weighty reason for Duterte’s veto of the bill was that it violated the “one topic, one law” rule.
The ongoing proliferation of scam messages all the more gives Congress a reason to pass a law on SIM registration, but the members of the 19th Congress should do it right this time to avoid another presidential veto.
