
Think tank Stratbase ADR Institute has urged government to invest in technology and security experts for its war against fraudsters and scammers, saying that merely enhancing the SIM registration law is not enough, as criminals who thrive in the online world are the result of the failure to implement and enforce existing regulations.
“That is why we believe that merely amending the SIM Card Registration Act, specifically by putting a cap on the number of SIMs any individual can own and register, is not enough to stop the nefarious activities of these scammers,” Stratbase President Prof. Dindo Manhit said.
He added that the Senate’s measure to enhance the SIM registration law will ultimately need better law enforcement, which it needs in the first place.
Department of Information and Communications Technology spokesperson Assistant Secretary Renato Paraiso further said that scammers are now using internet-based messaging platforms such as Viber and Messenger, among others, for crimes, along with using foreign SIMs.
“Fraudsters are a threat not only to individuals, all business enterprises, and government institutions. This problem demands solutions that are deliberate and decisive, and this can be achieved by more effective enforcement rather than by adding to the list of items to enforce,” he added.
The DICT said that there are only 200 Filipino cybersecurity experts, compared to Singapore’s 2,000, as most experts work overseas. The National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines estimates that the country needs around 180,000 cybersecurity professionals to cover critical areas of Philippine industries.
According to the Philippine National Police, the number of cybercrimes increased by 21.8 percent in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
The Philippines is also reported by American cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks as having experienced the most cyberattacks in the Southeast Asian region in 2023.
There must be a reason why the Philippines remains a popular target of cybercriminals in the region. As long as our response to the continuing and continuously evolving threat remains lacking compared to the rest of the region, our population will be targeted for providing the path of least resistance. With that in mind, the measures, firewalls, and roadblocks that we put in place have to be much better than before, and the quality of that response is indicated by the industry’s reaction to initiatives like simply enhancing SIM registration.
Hopefully our government can come up with better ways to outsmart the hackers and cybercriminals that are simply looking for the easiest prey available.*