PNP, BayanTel step up drive vs illegal telco service

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has conducted a sweep of international simple resale (ISR)/toll bypass operators in Quezon City and Malabon, stopping illegal operations of individuals and companies which have robbed telecommunication companies of millions in revenue.

An ISR is an illegal operation that entitles subscribed lines to local telecommunication providers to deliver outbound and inbound international calls. This is a violation of Republic Act 7925 and other related laws, where it is stated "only entities which will provide local exchange services and can demonstrably show technical and financial capability to install and operate an international gateway facility shall be allowed to operate as an international carrier."

Acting on search warrants issued by Malabon Judge Leonardo Leonida and Quezon City Judge Alexander Balut, the raid led by Chief Inspector Bernard Yang resulted in the seizure of several equipment from the suspected ISR operations in Tonsuya, Malabon.

In Quezon City, telephone lines used for ISR operations were also seized at Synchronized Solutions Inc. located on Balete Drive, Barangay Mariana; a unit at the H&L Building on Santo Tomas street in Don Manuel under the name of Marilyn Ibo; and the residence of Luisito Navarro on Nueva Visacaya street Barangay Sto Cristo.

BayanTel commended the team of Yang, saying the close coordination between telecommunication companies and the PNP would led to the prompt arrest of toll bypass operators.