'Text scams' sa kabila ng SIM registration law, pinaiimbestigahan sa Senado
MANILA, Philippines — Nais imbestigahan ng isang senador kung bakit patuloy pa rin ang text scams at iligal na paggamit ng SIM cards sa illegal POGO operations.
Ang naturang imbestigasyon ay pinapatawag ni Sen. Grace Poe in aid of legislation.
Marso 2023 nang sabihin ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na 93.3% ang ibinaba ng text scams simula nang maipatupad ang kontrobersyal na REpublic Act 11934 o SIM card registration law.
"WHEREAS, almost a year since the law has passed and despite the termination of existing SIM registration, text scams, and other mobile-related frauds continue to proliferate," ayon sa P.S. Resolution 745 ni Poe na inihain, Martes.
"WHEREAS, recent raids on POGO establishments revealed that thousands of SIMs were used for illegal operations."
Ilang mobile users na ang nagpatotoo sa balitang laganap pa rin ang ng text scams. Ang ilan sa kanila, nagpadala pa ng screenshots ng mga mensahe sa Philstar.com.
Ika-27 lang aniya ng Hunyo nang makumpiska ng mga otoridad ang nasa 80,000 SIM cards matapos ang pagsalakay sa XInchuang Network Technology, Inc., isang rehistradong Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator sa Las Pinas City.
Matatandaang nilagdaan ni Bongbong ang SIM card registration law sa pangakong matutugunan nito ang mga text scams, spams, atbp. iligal na gawain, ito habang ikinababahala ng ilan ang peligro sa data protection.
"[The] implementing agencies, telecommunication companies and law enforcement agencies should explain how thousands of SIMs used in fraudulent operations were able to register and if they are registered using fictitious Individuals or by willing victims who sell their identity," dagdag ng resolusyon.
"NOW THEREFORE BE TT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved by the Senate of the Philippines, to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the continued proliferation of text scams and the reported use of SIMs in illegal POGO operations, with the end in view of ensuring that the objectives in the implementation of Republic Act No. 11934 are achieved."
'Pinahirapan lang publiko'
Ikinatuwa naman ng digital advocates ang itinutulak na imbestigasyon ni Poe sa Senado lalo na't nagiging talamak uli ang pandadali ng mga kawatan.
"With barely a few months after the effectivity of SIM registration law, we have observed that text scams, and other unwanted text messages have once again proliferated our mobile phones and our social media platforms," ani Ronald Gustilo, national campaigner ng Digital Pinoys, Huwebes.
"This investigation will only show that SIM registration alone will not work against these scammers.
Una nang sinabi ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) na pinalitan na ng mga kriminal ang kanilang mga modus para makapambiktima pa rin sa kabila ng SIM card registration. Isa na raw dito ang pagtatayo ng fake SIM registration sites.
Paggigiit ng kanilang grupo, napatunayan lang daw na pinahirapan lang ng batas ang publiko habang inilalagay sa alanganin ang pagkapribado ng kanilang personal na impormasyon.
Aniya, panahon na upang mapag-usapan ang suspensyon ng batas maliban pa sa pagkakasa ng independiyenteng review kung kinakailangan pa rin ang R.A. 11934.
"It is clear that the law failed to deter scam and spam texts because the technology to broadcast SMS messages without using SIMs are available. We have been saying it ever since," dagdag ni Gustilo.
"We are urging the government immediately suspend and review the implementation of the law and its effectiveness in combatting scam and spam texts. We do not need a law that is ineffective and will only jeopardize the public’s privacy and risk the compromise of our personal information."
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