Three individuals selling pre-registered SIM cards were arrested by members of the Makati City Police in a buy-bust operation Thursday, April 6, the Southern Police District (SPD) said.
The suspects were identified as Frankeinstein David Santiago, Elvies Basilio, and Jomar Colinares.
According to the police report, the operatives first conducted the buy-bust operation in a building in Barangay Poblacion, Makati City, resulting in the arrest of Basilio and Colinares, both employees of Hapson Technology.
A follow-up operation was then conducted at the company's office where Santiago, husband of one of the company's employees, was nabbed after he became aggressive towards the police during the said operation.
Police said the operatives seized 40 pieces of registered Globe prepaid SIM cards and 37 Smart prepaid SIM cards from the suspects, as well as the boodle money.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 11934 (Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act) and Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) are being prepared for filing before the Office of the City Prosecutor, Makati against Basilio and Colinares, and PD 1829 and Art 155 of the Revised Penal Code against Santiago.
On April 2, the Makati City Police also arrested two individuals, one of them is a foreigner, for illegal selling of pre-registered SIM cards.