PAOCC raises alarm on pre-registered SIM cards being sold on Facebook

There are still pre-registered subscriber identity module (SIM) cards being sold on Facebook Marketplace that could be used for illegal activities, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Sunday.

“Nakikita mo dun pre-registered cards for sale. Minsan nakalagay used SIM cards for sale (You will see pre-registered or used SIM cards for sale),” PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz said during an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

“Siguro dagdagan pa natin ng safety nets yung pag nag reregister ng cards. Dapat every card may accountable person. Hindi po pwede ibenta ito ng bultuhan,” he added.

(I think more safety nets are needed for SIM registration. Every card should be assigned to a person who will be held accountable. It should not be sold in bulk.)

GMA News Online has reached out to Meta for comment on the issue.

In 2022, RA 11934 or the SIM Registration Act was signed into law. It seeks to end crimes like text and online scams by regulating the sale and use of SIMs through mandating registration to end-users.

The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group seized 7,900 pre-registered SIM cards and arrested 38 illegal sellers in January.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros earlier raised the alarm on the resurgence of scamming operations that includes the use of text messages. 

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that there is a need to amend the SIM Card Registration Act and aid it would be better if the registration of the SIM cards will be ''personal.'' 

In a separate dzBB interview, Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Senator Grace Poe said stricter implementation of the SIM Registration Act is needed to address the proliferation of pre-registered SIMs online.

GMA News Online has reached out to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for comments and to determine the number of SIM sellers who have been arrested for violating the SIM Registration Act. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News