Mindanaotoday.com | Poe: Time to go after text scammers after SIM registration ends
By: Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – As the subscriber identity module (SIM) registration ended on Tuesday, Senator Grace Poe urged the government to intensify the crackdown against text scammers.
“The end of SIM registration signals the beginning of intensified crackdown on mobile phone scammers,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.
Poe, who authored and sponsored the Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Registration Act, said it is time for authorities to show the public how the law is being implemented.
“Hamon sa law enforcers na maipakita kung paano masasampulan ang mga lumalabag sa SIM Registration Law (It is a challenge for the law enforcers to make a sample out of the SIM Registration Law violators),” she said, noting that the Philippine National Police [PNP] and other concerned enforcement agencies now have mechanisms and reliable data to monitor SIM-related crimes.
RA 11934 seeks to end crimes using text scams by requiring all telecommunication (telco) providers to submit a verified and updated list of their authorized dealers and agents nationwide to the National Telecommunications Commission every quarter of each year.
Poe also assured that the law has enough safeguards on consumers’ right to privacy.
The government is expected to start deactivating unregistered mobile numbers, which will result in the loss of mobile services such as calls, mobile data and texts.
A five-day grace period was given to mobile owners to reactivate their SIM through registration, or else the telco provider will block the number for good.
According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology, more than 105 million or more than 60 percent of the total number of active SIMs in the country are now registered. (PNA)
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