MANILA, Philippines-The Department of Justice (DOJ) has supported the proposal to your registration of pre-paid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Cards to require telecommunication companies to maintain and maintain registry or database of buyers of the electronic cards.
Inside a two-page legal opinion printed Monday, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said it is within the power Congress to enact laws which are for public good, prioritizing public safety and welfare over business interest and personal comfort.
Actually, De Lima said, such proposal, once it will become a law, can be really ideal for law enforcement agencies in discovering criminals.
“We interpose no legal or constitutional objection for the proposed bills, which aim, generally to aid law enforcement agencies in locating criminal perpetrators who would use mobile phone devices to commit heinous crimes including kidnapping with ransom and destruction of properties and lack of lives…and is inside the purview of what’s embodied in Article III on Declaration of Principles and State Policies of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which promotes the care of peace and order, the safety of life, liberty and property and also the promotion of the general welfare being essential for the enjoyment of most people,” De Lima said in her legal opinion.
De Lima suggested how the consolidated version of the proposed legislation be adopted.
Lawmakers are proposing SIM card registration of prepaid mobile SIM cards under House Bill Numbers 525, 858, 1519, 2444, 2588 and 2642, which is collectively known as SIM Card Registration Act.
The bank notes would require telecommunication companies to create a “fool-proof system” to spot pre-paid mobile subscribers-which account for greater than 90 percent with the combined 109 million cellular subscriber accounts of PLDT and Globe as of June.
The lawmakers want registration of prepaid SIM cards since it is easy to obtain in comparison to postpaid accounts.
De Lima issued the legal opinion upon the request of the House Committee on Information and Communication Technology Chairman Representative Joel Duavit.
Paolo dela Cruz 