đź“·Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace BarbersÂ
DISMAL failure was how Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers described SIM Registration Act insofar as curbing cybercrimes, for which he expressed intent on amending Republic Act 11934.
Enacted in October 2022, Barbers finds it rather imperative to come up with drastic provisions to ensure that the law serves the purpose for which it was intended – to deter cybercrimes.
Despite the passage of the SIM card law, which mandates the registration of post and prepaid SIM cards, the congressman from the south said that “enterprising” local and foreign criminals found a way “to put one over the law” and continue duping hapless Filipinos.
“The law was intended to curb cybercriminal activities, [and] address issues related to trolling, hate speech, and online disinformation. But what we are seeing and witnessing today is that online scamming activities continue and remain unabated.”
As such, the legislator hinted at including phishing, automated teller machine skimming, identity theft, online shopping, lottery scams, crowdfunding scams, love or romance scams, advance fee fraud, fake websites, SIM swap scams, SMS phishing, blackmail, credit card scams, impersonation scams, online banking scams, catfishing, charity scams, computer hacking, investment scams, and grandparent scams in the amended version of the law.
He also wants to include provisions that would address online drug peddling by groups posting and selling “coded” illegal wares on various social media platforms. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
