SIM Registration Act signed into law

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The Republic Act 11934, or the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act, was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, calling it a victory against rampant text scams.

“The passage of the SIM (Card) Registration Act into law is not just this administration’s victory. It is a victory against text scammers who continue to take advantage of our fellow Filipinos,” - Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva

Villanueva thanked the president for signing the new law, the first in the 19th Congress and under the Marcos administration. He also thanked his peers and members of the House of Representatives for urgently approving the measure.

"As author and co-sponsor, we are truly thankful that we were able to pass this through political will and the shared desire to serve our countrymen," - Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva

"The new law is a first step to fend off text scammers while guaranteeing utmost respect to fundamental human rights."

"The law has instituted sufficient safeguards that accord primacy to consumers' right to privacy to ensure a safe and secure mobile use in the country," - Senator Grace Poe/

Any information obtained during SIM card registration, she said, will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, except in accordance with the law or a court order authorizing the disclosure of personal information after determination of the probable cause.

Some senators said their names were used in text messages to ask for money or donations.

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go was one of them, stating that text message scams must stop after this measure finally becomes law.

"So, ngayon kailangan na pong magrehistro ng mga SIM owners. Maaari na pong ma-identify kung sinong gumagamit dito. Gamitin man nila sa kalokohan o anumang kriminalidad, maaari na silang ma-identify at mahuli (So, now SIM owners should be registered. We can now identify the users. If they use it in illegally or in whatever criminality, they can be identified and arrested)," - Senator Christopher Lawrence Go

Senator Jinggoy Estrada stressed the timeliness of the law as the Covid-19 pandemic fuels the Philippines' rapid digital adoption.

"It’s imperative to have laws that are more attuned to the times and the needs of society – not only in the ways Filipinos communicate, work, engage in e-commerce, access information, etc.,"

"Hindi man ito maging ganap na solusyon, naniniwala tayo na malaking dagok ito para sa mga kriminal na sinasamantala ang anonymity sa paggamit ng mga (It may not be a complete solution, I believe that this will be a big blow to the criminals who hide in anonymity by using) pre-paid SIM cards," - Senator Jinggoy Estrada

Senator JV Ejarmy also praised the president and his fellow senators for enacting the SIM card registration law.

"We assure the public that we will be closely monitoring the implementation of this Act," - Senator JV Ejercito

Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. said passage of the SIM registration bill was "a long time coming."

"We are finally moving forward towards eradicating crimes that take advantage of the anonymity provided by unregistered SIM cards back then,"  -  Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.

The signing of the SIM Registration Law, held at Malacañang Palace, was attended by Vice President Sara Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Senate President Migz Zubiri, President of the House Martin Romualdez, Senator Grace Poe with other senators and Representative Sandro Marcos and other members of Congress. (NAP)