Lawmaker seeks registration of mobile phone cards

MANILA, Philippines - Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a bill seeking the registration of mobile phone subscriber identity module (SIM) cards with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

He said registration of SIM cards with the NTC would “discourage unscrupulous people from using these cards and mobile phone devices in illegal activities.”

“The seeming boundless stream of supply of SIM cards has become a magnet for nefarious activities. We hear countless victims of text scams, ransom demand through untraceable mobile numbers and mobile phones become triggering devices for bomb explosion that kill hapless civilians in our midst,” he said.

He said perpetrators of these illegal activities could be traced, identified and prosecuted if all mobile phones and their SIM cards are registered.

Gatchalian said he could not understand why the NTC and the government have not required the registration of all cellular phones and their subscriber identity cards, and are apparently waiting for Congress to do it.

He said the Philippines should follow the lead taken by Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei and other countries that have enacted laws to prevent the use of mobile phones for illegal activities. 

Under the Gatchalian bill, telecommunications companies would be required to ascertain the identities and addresses of their subscribers by requiring the presentation of identification documents, including those issued by the government like passport and driver’s license.

Such information and proof of sale are to be submitted to the NTC. All mobile phones and SIM cards are to be registered with the NTC.

The measure directs the telecommunications commission to keep subscriber information confidential.

Such information would be released only upon order of a court or request from a law enforcement agency that is based on a finding that a particular number is being used in the commission of a crime or that it was utilized as a means to commit an unlawful act.

A mobile phone company may deny service to a subscriber suspected of using his device or SIM card for an illegal activity.

Telecommunications companies found guilty of violating the proposed law would be fined P300,000 for the first offense; P500,000 for the second offense and P1,000,000 for the third offense and subsequent offenses.

Similar bills had been filed in previous Congresses, which failed to approve them largely due to the opposition of certain affected companies.