Gatchalian vows to refile SIM card registration bill if re-elected; underscores need to separate policy on social media (Sabong News)

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday vowed to pursue the proposed law that seeks to register all SIM cards being used in the country as a means to combat fraudulent digital activities if he wins in the May 2022 senatorial elections. Gatchalian made the promise after President Duterte vetoed Senate Bill No. 176 or the proposed Act Requiring the Registration of All Users of Pre-Paid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Cards which he principally authored. “Dapat maintindihan ng mga kababayan natin ang proseso ng paggawa ng batas. Ang may kapangyarihan na gumawa ng batas ay ang lehislatura pero hindi magiging batas ang isang panukala kung walang pirma ng presidente at ang ehekutibo rin ang magpapatupad ng batas (Our people should understand the process of lawmaking. It is Congress that crafts measures but it won’t become a law if the President refuses to sign it and it is the Executive department that will enforce the law),” Gatchalian said reacting on the president’s veto of the bill. As a proponent of the measure in the Senate, Gatchalian said he will pursue a separate legislation on social media use after a more thorough and comprehensive discussion. “Ito ang isa sa mga una kong ihahain ‘pag tayo ay nakabalik sa senado. Pero ihihiwalay ko ang panukala para sa social media para mas malalim at mas komprehensibo ‘yung detalye pagdating sa pagmamandato nito (This is one of the things I will file immediately if we return to the Senate. But I will separate the proposal on social media for a more in-depth and comprehensive mandate),” Gatchalian said. “Aminado ako na ang social media ay nagagamit ngayon sa maraming hindi magagandang bagay. Unang una, yung mga troll, ako mismo nabiktima. Aatakihin ka at sisirain ang puri mo (I admit that social media is now being used for nefarious activities. Primarily, by the trolls, I was also a victim. They will attack you and malign your personality),” the re-electionist senator pointed out. Gatchalian pointed out that social media platforms have a wider reach and there is a need to determine if Facebook, Instagram, or Tiktok accounts that are operated in China can be under the jurisdiction of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). “May mga ganun na komplikasyon na dapat ayusin. Ako naman ay bukas na ayusin pa ‘yung batas para maging klaro. But in theory, dapat totoong tao lang ang mag register sa social media (There are complications like that that need to be addressed. I am willing to amend the measure to make it more clear. But in theory, real persons should be the ones authorized to regiser on social media),” he stressed. Despite the presidential veto, Gatchalian defended the necessity of having a SIM Card Registration law as criminals have been abusing the anonymity on social media to carry out their nefarious activities. This, in effect, reduces the confidence of the public in using their mobile phones in doing online or digital transactions for fear of falling victim to fraudsters. The bill, the lawmaker stressed, aims to promote accountability in the use of SIM cards and sets mechanisms that would make it difficult for criminals to commit electronically-aided crimes on mobile phone, or through the internet. Gatchalian said passage of the measure into law would also provide law enforcement agencies with necessary tools to resolve cybercrimes and other related activites.