House panel consolidating bills vs cybercrimes

MANILA, Philippines - With no law penalizing computer fraud, cyber-trafficking and other related crimes, the House committee on information and communications technology kicked off discussions to merge bills that seek to address and penalize so-called cyber-crimes. Headed by Catanduanes Representative Joseph Santiago, the committee tackled House Bill (HB) 1323 by Rep. Eric Singson (Ilocos Sur); HB 2196 by Rep. Marcelino Teodoro (Marikina City); HB 3190 by Rep. Carmelo Lazatin (Pampanga), and HB 3249 by Rep. Isidro Ungab (Davao City). HB 1323 seeks to prevent and penalize computer fraud and abuses, and proposes the establishment of a Cyber-Crime Investigation and Coordinating Center. Mr. Singson noted that while the recently approved Electronic Commerce Act (Republic Act 8792) provides penalties for computer-related crimes, it only generally covered acts inimical to the use of computers and applications of information technologies such as computer hacking. "HB 1323 aims to complement the E-Commerce Law as it further specifies cyber offenses and their corresponding penalties," he said. HBs 2196, 3190, and 3249 aim to address the proliferation of sex trafficking of women, men and children through posting images of lewd acts in the Internet and live sexual acts in chat rooms. During the committee’s meetings, Palmer Mallari, special agent of the National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division, said the passage of complementary laws has long been overdue. He also requested adding a provision requiring Internet service providers and telephone companies to keep transaction and message records longer in their database. He said cellphone companies retain short messages in their database only for three to four months. Mr. Mallari explained that these records are needed during crime investigations. He also noted the need to empower investigators to access such records and to even confiscate related evidences, if warranted, for forensic evaluation. The committee formed a technical working group (TWG) to further study the bills’ consolidation. The TWG will be composed of representatives from the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, NBI, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Justice. Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. (Makati City) was chosen as chairman and Reps. Abraham Kahlil Mitra (Palawan) and Liwayway Vinzons-Chato (Camarines Norte) were appointed members. Cable signal theft Meanwhile, the committee also approved the consolidation of bills that seek to penalize cable signal theft. The measures are HB 1409 by Mr. Santiago, HB 2695 by Rep. Ronald Singson (Ilocos Sur), HB 3007 by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro City), and HB 3075 principally authored by Alliance for Rural Concerns party-list Rep. Narciso Santiago III. The measures declared as unlawful for any person, whether natural or juridical, to intercept or tap and use any signal or service offered over cable television (CATV) and cable Internet systems, sell or possess electronic equipment which circumvent or allow unauthorized access to satellite program signals and systems of cable Internet service operators, and destroy cable Internet facilities and accessories. These measures were crafted in response to the clamor of CATV and Internet providers for a law that would shield stakeholders against the high incidence of cable signal theft through unauthorized interception of CATV programming or Internet services. In addition to the unauthorized installation or use of cable connections, HB 2695 also penalizes those persons who steal or possess stolen or pilfered cable or telephone wires. Cable TV companies have on several occasions complained of rampant signal theft in the Philippines. - BusinessWorld