Sen. Cynthia A. Villar is optimistic that the SIM Card Registration Act, which mandates the ownership registration of all SIM (Subscriber Identity Modules) cards in the Philippines, will soon become law.
“It is just a step away from becoming a law after the bicameral conference report was ratified by both the Senate and the House of Representatives,” said Villar.
She hopes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will soon sign into law this measure, which is a deterrent to online crimes, fraudulent digital activities, and scammers, and a huge help for law enforcers to track them.
While Villar has recognized the benefits of this modern technology-mobile phones and the internet, she lamented that its illegal or malicious use endangers people’s lives, damages property, poses hazards to public order, and even threatens the security of nations.
If passed into law, the senator said fraud and other crimes perpetrated by lawless elements using SIM cards, mobile phones, and the internet would be stopped.
She said this important piece of legislation was envisioned to curb criminal syndicates, which have become innovative through the years, from victimizing millions of Filipinos.
Villar said this will also address many forms of harassment, bullying, and even misleading advertisements and fraudulent sales promotions, among many others.
It also includes a provision against online trolls.
The proposed measure requires all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to register SIM cards as a prerequisite to their sale and activation in the Philippines, which has more than 120 million mobile subscribers.
Social media account providers should also register their legal identities and phone numbers when creating new accounts.