Lacson urges law curbing SIM card purchases

Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson wants a law passed restricting the sale of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to prevent criminals and terrorists from using cellphones for ransom negotiations, extortion and bomb threats.

The former chief of the Philippine National Police said the measure could also ensure that cellphone companies pay the correct taxes.

"A law on pre-paid SIM cards and pre-paid cell cards would enable the Bureau of Internal Revenue to monitor the sales of mobile phone companies so it can correctly determine how much taxes these firms should pay the government," he said.

"At present these companies are making a killing and yet no taxes are generated for the state coffers."

Lacson said the government would be assured that cellphones would be used responsibly and for legitimate purposes if a law is passed regulating the sale of SIM cards.

"Cellular phones have really revolutionized our way of life," he said.

"Unfortunately, this technology is available even to lawless elements who have been using pre-paid SIM cards as one of the principal tools in their criminal activities, particularly kidnap-for-ransom gangs.

"The use of text-messaging using pre-paid SIM cards has also become a potent weapon for black propaganda operators who systematically spread misinformation and lies against their political enemies."

Lacson said people must report the loss of a SIM card to the nearest police station so they could be issued a certification that the card is no longer in their possession. – Sammy Santos