Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking to amend Repubic Act No. (RA) 11934 or the SIM Registration Act following the widespread use of SIM cards for fraud and scamming purposes.
The lawmaker raised the need to limit the number of allowed SIMs that can be registered per user, as well as regulate Short Message Service marketing, promotional, political or fundraising sent through SIMs.
There has been a continued discovery of registered SIMs, cellphones, computers, and pocket Wi-Fi devices, especially in POGO operations that are engaged in various forms of online scams, the senator said noting the massive financial losses for victims.
“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,” according to him.
Gatchalian, chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 1054 that seeks to investigate the use of SIMs in illegal POGO operations.
Authorities recovered numerous SIMs, along with hundreds of cellphones and digital devices, from raids on POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.
RA 11934, which aims to deter the use of SIM-related technology in various illegal or scamming activities, was signed in October 2022.IMT
