Gatchalian, vice chairman of the Senate economic affairs committee, said a number of individuals in recent months have fallen prey to online fraudsters who hacked prepaid SIM cards. The senator, who as early as 2016 filed a bill mandating the registration of all users of prepaid SIM cards, cited the urgency of regulating SIM card sale and distribution. “The boundless stream of supply of prepaid SIM cards has become a magnet for illicit activities since the start of the pandemic. What difference does it make if we require the registration of prepaid SIM cards from the requirement of registration of places visited for contact-tracing purposes)?” he said. Under Senate Bill 176, or the proposed “SIM Card Registration Act,” users of prepaid SIM cards must present a valid ID and photo and sign a control-numbered registration form issued by the service provider of the purchased card.

Source: Manila Times January 14, 2021 16:18 UTC