SIM Registration Law not a 'silver bullet' vs scams, says NTC

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has vowed to address the concerns on POGO-related scamming activities as it admitted that the SIM Registration Law, which it said is not a "silver bullet" against messaging scams, continues to face several challenges in its implementation. 

The agency issued a statement Monday after Senator Sherwin Gatchalian told them to "stop sleeping on its job" to realize the intent of the SIM Registration Act, which was signed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in October 2022, to reduce, if not eliminate, scams perpetrated through text or online messages.

Gatchalian noted the "significant number" of SIM cards, which are reported to be used for scamming purposes, seized from raided POGO hubs, citing the raids against Smartweb Technology Corporation in Pasay City, Zun Yuan Technology in Bamban, Tarlac, and Lucky South 99 in Porac and Angeles City, Pampanga.

"The NTC fully acknowledges the call of our legislators on the need to further strengthen not only the law, but also its enforcement, to which the NTC remains committed. Although the SIM Registration Act is not a silver bullet against messaging scams, it is nevertheless one of the most important tools for our law enforcement authorities because it provides legal sanctions for SIM-aided offenses," the NTC said.

Despite their efforts and cooperation with various law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of apprehended perpetrators of scams in the country, the NTC said the implementation of law continues to face several challenges, adding that the POGO-related scamming activities "become a regional phenomenon not confined only within the Philippines."

Furthermore, the NTC emphasized that there are other ways that scammers can victimize individuals, such as messaging through over-the-top platforms like Whatsapp, Viber, Telegram, and Messenger, which they said are not covered by law.

Apart from this, the agency said scammers also use IMSI Catchers, which are portable, easily-assembled, and mobile cell-sites capable of sending messages without the need of SIMs.

"[I]n light of these recent developments and discoveries, the NTC shall continue to tighten its regulations pertaining to SIM registration to the fullest extent allowed under the existing law," the NTC said.

Despite NTC's assurance, three more senators urged the agency to step up in performing their mandate in curbing scams and explain the factors why this problem continue to proliferate.

Explanations not excuses

"Instead of simply mouthing excuses, they should explain why they have been ineffective and what, if at all, they need to enable them to effectively combat and eliminate this social ill," Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said.

Senator Grace Poe, principal sponsor of the law, said the NTC should be "more proactive than the scammers" and it should "lead the fight against it and not just stand idly by as this text scam pandemic continues to paralyze our systems."

"Sadly, these text spams and scams have become our new normal. What has NTC done so far? Ano ba ang nagawa against bad actors, including those in POGO hubs who were caught with text blast machines and other violations?" she asked.

"The agency needs to account for its own actions, or lack thereof. We are not even receiving text scam advisories anymore which is the barest minimum of their duties," she pointed out.

Poe stressed that the SIM Registration Act should be implemented though the joint effort by all government agencies and sectors with NTC at the helm of leading the drive against text scams.

She explained that telecommunication companies are also required to provide user-friendly mechanisms to report spams and scams.

However, Poe noted that with the rigorous reporting mechanism in place, users are discouraged to do so.

"Ikaw na nga ang nabiktima, ikaw pa ang nahirapan," she quipped.

(You're already the victim, you're also hassled.) 

"The war against text scams should be a shared burden between NTC and the telcos. Surely, they are capable of devising a more straightforward mechanism that clearly shows immediate action on the users' concerns and filters against text blast softwares," she added.

For her part, Senator Imee Marcos said the NTC should take this problem seriously, noting tha SIM cards are still being used in various crimes despite the existence of the law.

"'Yung NTC nga eh kinakalampag natin. Sana naman seryosohin natin itong mga problemang ito. Nagagamit pa 'yung SIM card sa iba't-ibang krimen, nadadali ang mga sindikato at and'yan na naman sila, bidang-bida sila sa mga imbestigasyon ng POGO," she said in a chance interview.

(We are urging the NTC to take this problem seriously. The SIM cards are being used in various crimes and even by the syndicates who were recently caught in POGO investigations.)—KBK/RF, GMA Integrated News