The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) is pushing for amendments to Republic Act No. 11934, or the SIM Registration Act, arguing that the four-year-old law has failed to curb the cybercrimes it was designed to prevent.
PNP-ACG director Maj. Gen. Wilson Casil Asueta raised the proposal during a press briefing on September 1, 2026, following the arrest of a 26-year-old man in Obando, Bulacan, on August 24 for allegedly selling around 400 pre-registered SIM cards online.
“Our SIM Card Registration Act is not being implemented effectively. We need new provisions so we are appealing to our legislators for the immediate passage of amended laws for this purpose,” Asueta said.
He said cybercrimes involving SIM cards typically fall into three categories: scamming, illegal online gambling, and identity exploitation. “I can honestly say that almost all cybercrimes committed start with SIM cards. That is our problem. It is difficult for us to monitor because there are so many lacking provisions and our laws, including the SIM Card Registration Act, are no longer applicable,” he said.
Proposed changes
The PNP-ACG’s main proposal is to make the Philippine national ID, which carries biometric data, the primary or sole accepted ID for SIM registration. “If possible, we should only use one ID, our national ID which comes with biometric information,” Asueta said.
The agency is also proposing a cap of five SIM cards per person, stricter documentation requirements for SIM transfers, and closer monitoring of how SIM cards are distributed and redistributed after their initial sale. The PNP is coordinating with telecommunications companies, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and other government agencies toward what has been described as a one-ID system for SIM registration.
Law’s track record so far
RA 11934 was signed by President Marcos in 2022 to establish accountability for SIM card use and help law enforcers trace individuals behind phone-based crimes, including text scams and online fraud. Telcos and authorized sellers are required under the law to collect a valid ID from buyers, and SIM cards registered before the law took effect had to be re-registered or face deactivation. The law also carries penalties for registering a SIM with false information or using one for illegal activity.
Despite these provisions, PNP-ACG data shows the problem persists at scale. From January to July 2026, police arrested 766 suspects for cybercrime, most linked to online selling scams, and rescued 149 victims while securing 81 convictions over the same period.
Whether the proposed amendments advance will depend on Congress. The PNP-ACG has not specified a timeline for legislative action.
