SIM cards or Subscriber Identity Modules in use must be registered. This is after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr signed the said law this Monday.
This Monday, Marcos performed the ceremonial signing of this law, which was held at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang, and was witnessed by several government officials.
The purpose of the SIM Registration Act or Republic Act 11934 is to prevent using SIM cards in crime, including text and online scams.
“We will soon be able to provide law enforcement agencies with the tools needed to resolve crimes perpetrated with the use of these SIM cards, as well as providing a strong deterrence against the commission of wrongdoing,” Marcos said in his speech when signing the SIM card registration law.
“Crucially as well, included in this crucial piece of legislation are provisions that make paramount the protection of confidentiality and data privacy rights of subscribers, which shall begin to take effect at the point of sale,” he added.
The president also assured that any information required for SIM card registration is “absolutely confidential, unless access to this information has been granted by the written consent of the subscriber.”
President Marcos signs SIM card registration into law
“These public telecommunication entities (PTEs) shall only be required to disclose information contained in the SIM card, upon a duly issued subpoena or order of a court upon finding of probable cause,” according to Marcos.
“They can likewise be compelled to do so upon written request from a law enforcement agency in relation to an ongoing investigation, that a particular number is used in the commission of a crime or that it was used as a means to commit an unlawful act, ” he continued.
Under the law, public telecommunication entities are required to submit to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) a verified list of their authorized dealers and agents nationwide. They have to submit the list every third quarter of the year.
If the user does not register the SIM card within the specified time, the PTE will automatically cut its connection and will no longer be usable.
There are penalties for those who violate the confidentiality of SIM card registration information, provide false information, steal and sell a registered SIM card, allow others to use the SIM without complying with the law, and so on.
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