THE House Committee on Information and Communications Technology approved last Monday a consolidated measure requiring the registration of all postpaid and prepaid mobile phone subscriber identity module (SIM) cards.
The panel chaired by Navotas Rep. Tobias “Toby” M. Tiangco approved the consolidation of 14 measures to require SIM-card registration to lessen scams and criminal activities.
Tiangco explained that the mother bill is House Bill (HB) 14 filed by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, the exact version approved in the last Congress.
The consolidated bill was approved on third and final reading in the previous 18th Congress.
Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda invoked Rule 10, Section 48 in swiftly approving the consolidated bill that authorizes the committees of the House of Representatives to dispose of priority measures already filed and approved on third reading in the immediately preceding Congress.
In his sponsorship speech, Tingog Rep. Jude A. Acidre said unregulated SIM cards are behind several mobile phone scams. These scams range from simple text messages asking users to send cellular loads to more sophisticated voice phishing methods and marketing spams that are used to gain unauthorized access to sensitive personal information of unsuspecting mobile phone users.
The bill requires ownership registration of SIM cards to eradicate mobile phone-aided criminal activities.
Moreover, it shall regulate the sale and distribution of SIM cards in order to promote end-user accountability, prevent the proliferation of mobile phone scams and data breaches and to assist law enforcement agencies in resolving crimes involving the use of mobile phone units, within the limits imposed by data privacy laws and regulations.
“It is in this spirit that I ask my fellow members of this chamber to work with me in securing the immediate passage of this bill,” Salceda said.
At present, only SIM cards for postpaid mobile or cellular phone subscriptions are required to be registered.
The bill seeks to require ownership registration of SIM cards to eradicate mobile phone-aided criminal activities.
Under HB 14, every public telecommunications entity (PTE) or authorized seller shall require an end user to accomplish and sign in triplicate a numbered registration form issued by the PTE.
The form shall include an attestation that the person appearing before the seller is the same person who accomplished the document and that he presented valid identification cards.
The PTE or its authorized seller shall not sell a SIM card if the end user refuses to comply with the registration requirement, which will also apply to foreigners.
The form shall indicate the subscriber’s name, date of birth, gender, his address as appearing in a valid ID card with photo and the assigned mobile number and serial number.
Any information in the registration document shall be treated as absolutely confidential, unless access to it is granted by the subscriber in writing.
However, such information shall be disclosed upon order by a court or written request by a law enforcement agency in relation to an investigation of an unlawful act involving the use of a mobile number.
SIM cards sold or issued before the effectivity of the proposed SIM Card Registration Act will also be required to be registered.
PTEs shall maintain a registry of all subscribers and their assigned SIM cards. They shall submit to the National Telecommunications Commission a list of their authorized sellers/agents.
If the offense is committed by a PTE, the president and other responsible officers shall be held liable and fined up to P300,000 for the first offense, up to P500,000 for the second offense and up to P1 million for the third and any succeeding violation.
If the violator is an authorized seller, his operation shall be suspended and a fine of P5,000 to P50,000 shall be imposed.
If the offender is an officer or employee of an implementing agency, he shall be dismissed from the service and fined, without prejudiced to the filing of appropriate criminal, civil and administrative charges.