The SIM Card Registration Act, which intends to encourage responsibility in the use of SIM cards and support law enforcement in their efforts to hunt down those responsible for crimes committed using phones, was signed into law today, Monday, by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr..
“Ang batas na ito ay tiyak na makatutulong sa pamahalaan upang paigtingin ang mga hakbangin laban sa mga scam at krimen na ginagawa sa pamamagitan ng text at online na mensahe,” he said in a Facebook post.
“Masisiguro rin ng batas na ito ang seguridad ng personal na impormasyon ng bawat mamamayan.”
All public telecommunications organizations (PTE) or direct sellers shall require the SIM card user to produce a valid identification document with a photo, according to a news release from the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).
Unless the subscriber gives permission for access to his information, all information entered in SIM card registration will be kept as confidential.
In addition, the law requires telco companies to provide the full name and address listed on a SIM card registration upon receipt of a valid subpoena or court order.
The information on the SIM card holder may be requested in writing from telco companies by law enforcement agencies investigating alleged crimes committed using phones.
The OPS said Marcos’ approval of the proposal will greatly strengthen government efforts to combat text and internet message scams, which have grown more common this year.
The law is the consolidation of the bills approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House version of the bill was sponsored by Speaker Martin Romualdez with presidential son Representative Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos and Tingog party- list Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre as co-authors (House Bill No. 14).
In the Senate, the measure was sponsored by Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Grace Poe, Win Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Ronald Dela Rosa, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Jinggoy Ejercito, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Christopher Lawrence Go, Francis Tolentino, Imee Marcos, Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr., and Pia Cayetano (Senate Bill No. 1310).
Photo Credit: Facebook/BongbongMarcos