SIM card registration a tool vs child cybersex traffickers –Gatchalian

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian believed that the mandatory registration of SIM cards would help the government crackdown on the online sexual exploitation of children.

According to Gatchalian, the lack of a sim card registration law is preventing law enforcers from running after child cybersex offenders “who use technology to shield themselves with anonymity.”

“Sa ating pagsugpo sa child pornography, kailangan nating isulong ang lahat ng paraan upang mapabilis ang pagtugis sa mga kriminal sa likod ng mga karahasang ito,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

“Kung magiging batas ang pagpaparehistro sa mga SIM card, mas mahirap nang makapagtago at makatakas ang mga traffickers na umaabuso sa ating mga kabataan,” he added.

Gatchalian in early January expressed alarm over reports that students sold lewd photos and videos to raise funds for distance learning. A news portal on the student sector was reportedly used for the transactions.

According to the statement, the cases further increased to almost 48,000 in 2020 from the 19,000 recorded in 2019.

In 2019, Gatchalian refiled Senate Bill No. 176 or the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act, which seeks to require end-users of prepaid SIM cards to present a valid ID and photo as well as to sign a registration form issued by the service provider. — DVM, GMA News