Lacson files bill against online crimes

Credit to Author: BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO| Date: Wed, 03 Jul 2019 05:21:09 +0000

SEN. Panfilo Lacson has raised the need to stop online scams and so-called “Tapon-SIM” crimes where criminals use prepaid SIM (subscriber identity module) cards that can be disposed of to throw law enforcers off their trail.

The senator filed Senate Bill (SB) 25 or the “Prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Cards Regulations Act of 2019,” which would require the registration of prepaid SIM cards to prevent their illegal or malicious use.

“Not only is this prepaid SIM card easily accessible, i.e., it can be bought almost anywhere, the owners thereof can likewise easily evade detection since prepaid SIM cards are virtually undetectable,” Lacson said.

“Due to this, unscrupulous individuals almost always take advantage of the same in the pursuit of their criminal activities to the detriment not only of a particular interest but that of the whole nation,” he said.

He said SB 25 aims to address the recurrent peace-and-order problem. “Every new technology carries with it tremendous responsibility, and the technology should be used for the advancement of the interest of all and not only of a chosen few.”

“It therefore becomes our imperative duty as lawmakers to ensure that the benefits we derive from this technology should be used properly and not abused by some segments of our society,” Lacson said.

Under the bill, persons who want to use prepaid SIM cards should fill up a registration form providing their name and the phone number of the prepaid SIM card.

Buyers must present valid government documents such as passports, or school or company IDs (identification) with photos.

Dealers and telecommunications service providers who sell the SIM cards must maintain records of the names and other data of all persons who purchased the cards.

If a prepaid SIM card is used in an illegal or criminal activity, law enforcement agencies may retrieve information from the database – but only after obtaining a written court order.

Such court orders should specify the name of the law enforcement agency and/or officer authorized to look into the database of the telecommunications service provider; ask the telecommunications service provider to furnish the information requested; and direct the law enforcement agency and/or officer to use the information obtained in accordance with the written application.

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