Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla urged lawmakers to expedite the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the SIM Registration Act that will boost the government’s drive against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

The law, under Republic Act No. 11934, was signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Oct. 10, 2022.

“We're asking Congress, Senate and House, to speed up the IRR for the SIM Registration Act for it to be executory and help us identify all the perpetrators because we know that they are using prepaid and data services in online sexual case and in trafficking children,” Remulla said.

Remulla’s call was aired after a meeting with United Nations Special Rapporteur on Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children Mama Fatima Singhateh at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

During the meeting, actually a courtesy call said Remulla, the justice secretary gave Singhateh an official letter outlining the Philippine government’s efforts to combat the problem of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

“We also told her about our problems with our existing laws, including our Anti-Money Laundering mechanisms which are very restrictive,” he said.

At the same time, Remulla said he asked Singhateh to push for sharing of data bases among United Nations member countries in connection with the battle against OSAEC.

He pointed out that one of the major challenges in addressing the OSAEC problem is technological, which is vital in tracing the perpetrators.

He said he would issue an ultimatum to all telecom companies and internet service providers (ISPs) to perform their obligations under the law which requires them to install a software that will block access to or transmittal of any form of child pornography in the internet.

Republic Act No. 9775, the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, telco companies and ISPs are mandated to install a program or software that will block access to or transmittal of any form of child pornography in the internet.

RA 9775 also requires that government authorities be notified within seven days from discovery that any form of child pornography is being committed using their servers or facilities.

Remulla said that telecommunication companies have been instrumental in increased OSAEC cases since perpetrators can do their business without fear of being discovered because they use prepaid SIM (subscriber identity module) which can easily be bought and discarded.

“Umiiwas talaga ang mga telco kasi pinagkakakitaan nila ito. Sana naman ay magkaroon sila ng konsensya at pabilisin na natin and IRR (Telcom companies are evading because they earn out of this, non-registration of SIM card. I hope their conscience will be borthered),” he said.

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