PAOCC wants stricter SIM card registration

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has recommended stricter measures in the registration and sale of subscriber identity module or SIM cards to curb illegal activities.

PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz said while crimes linked to unregistered SIMs have decreased, loopholes remain in the system.

“Our recommendation is to further strengthen or check the pre-registration of SIM cards,” Cruz said on Monday.

He proposed that SIM cards should only be sold if the buyer presents a national ID.

“There should also be a system link. If the identification card shown, whether a national ID or a driver’s license, is not linked to the source database, the application should automatically be denied,” Cruz said.