To combat text crimes, deter online scammers

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated his support for Senate Bill No. 1310 or the proposed “Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act”, which aims to eradicate the proliferation of spam messages and other fraudulent cellular phone activities. Go is a co-sponsor and co-author of the measure.

In an ambush interview after personally aiding Super Typhoon Karding victims in San Miguel, Bulacan on Thursday, September 29, Go decried the fact that many Filipinos are being targeted by text scams, some even using his name. This, among other reasons, led him to back the measure.

“Alam n’yo marami pong nanloloko using text messages, itong text scam. Ako po biktima po ako, ginagamit ‘yung pangalan ko,” said Go.

“Napapanahon na po maipasa po ito basta maayos lang ang restrictions at masunod lang po ang karapatang pantao rin po dito,” he added.

If enacted into law, consumers will be required to register their SIM cards before activating them by submitting a completed registration form and a valid government ID or other required identification documents.

“Importante dito registered po ‘yung ating SIM para alam natin kung sino po ‘yung bumili ng SIM at gumagamit, para po kung gamitin po ito sa mga kriminal na aktibidad ay mahuli po kaagad at ma-identify,” he said.

“Malaking bagay po ‘yun at maiiwasan itong mga text scam, maiiwasan po ‘yung panloloko sa ating kapwa,” Go added.

During the Senate plenary session on September 13, Go delivered a co-sponsorship speech supporting the bill, citing the government’s deluge of reports of phone scams and other criminal activities aided by mobile phones, some of which even involved messages containing sensitive or private information about the recipients.

“Ang nakakaalarma po talaga dito, gaya ng nabanggit ng ating mga kasamahan noong nakaraan, ay ang ilan po sa mga scam messages na ito ay naglalaman ng pangalan ng mga recipients. Kung minsan po ay buo pa ang pangalan na nakalagay sa mga text messages na ito,” expressed Go.

“Nakapagtataka po kung saan at paano nakuha ang mga impormasyon na ito. Nakababahala rin po kung gaano kadalas makatanggap ng scam at spam messages ang mga recipients,” he added.

Go then expressed his confidence that, if the proposal is passed, it will deter fraudsters and make the internet a safer place for Filipinos.

“I believe that through the passage of this measure, we will be able to protect the privacy and information of our fellow Filipinos. I will always be in support of the protection of the interest and welfare of our kababayans,” Go stressed.

“This will be able to help the current administration protect the welfare and privacy of the Filipinos and make them feel safe as they use their devices,” he reiterated.