Grace Poe wants probe on persistent text scams despite SIM Registration Act

Senator Grace Poe has called on the Senate to investigate why text scams continued to proliferate even after the enactment into law of the SIM Registration Act. 

Sen. Grace Poe (Senate PRIB Photo)

Poe said the Upper Chamber should also look into its possible link into the reported use of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) in the operations of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

“The law aims to protect users from scams and hasten law enforcement in investigating phone-related scams,” said Poe, principal author and sponsor of the measure that was eventually signed into law as Republic Act No. 111934 or the SIM Registration Act. 

“The registration of SIM should help unmask fraudsters and deny them of sanctuary to hide.  But, are these being achieved?” she pointed out.

Poe lamented that even after more than a year since the law was passed and despite the termination of the mandatory SIM registration, text scams and other mobile-related fraud continue to hound the public.

The Senate Committee on Public Services chairperson pointed to the possible connection of this development to the recent raid on illegal POGO establishments where they authorities found thousands of SIMs being allegedly used for illegal operations.

“The law mandates that SIM should not be used for unlawful purposes and that owners have verified identity,” Poe said.

“However, reports that thousands of registered SIMs seized are being used as a tool for scamming and other cyber fraud raise questions about the effective implementation of the law," she stressed.

Telecommunication companies, as well as the implementing agencies and law enforcers should explain how thousands of SIMs used in fraudulent operations were able to register, Poe said.

She said the Senate probe should also find out if these persons registered or signed up using fictitious individuals or by willing victims who sold their identity.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other government agencies tasked to implement the SIM Registration Act should submit to Congress a report and updates on the law’s implementation, the resolution stated.