PNP-ACG: 8 nabbed for selling registered SIM cards
(AFP photo)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) apprehended eight individuals in separate operations targeting the sale of already-registered subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, a violation of the SIM Registration Law.
The PNP – ACG on Thursday reported that a 41-year-old driver identified only as “Nonoy” was arrested on Jan. 14 at 3:40 p.m. along Pedro Gil Street in Paco, Manila for selling a registered SIM card for P800 and a fully verified e-wallet for P1,500.
He was caught with four pieces of registered SIM cards when apprehended by the PNP-ACG team.
The PNP-ACG’s field unit in Soccsksargen (Region 12) also apprehended a registered SIM card seller at 1 p.m. on Jan. 18 in General Santos City.
The suspect is a 21-year-old mother, whom the PNP-ACG did not identify in its separate report on the case. She was allegedly selling and advertising a verified e-wallet account bundled with a SIM card for P2,000.
Article continues after this advertisementTwo other suspects, identified as “Jing” and “Drei”, were arrested on Jan. 20 at 12:20 p.m. in Santa Cruz, Manila, after the latter advertised a registered SIM card with a verified e-wallet account for P3,000.
Article continues after this advertisementThe four suspects face charges for violating the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act and the SIM Registration in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
The PNP-ACG teams from the Eastern and Quezon City Police Districts also reported the arrest on Jan. 15 “Mae,” a 27-year-old single mother, at 1 p.m. at the Tobias-Hemady Bridge; and “Mico,” 30, at 2:35 p.m. in Old Balara, also for selling registered SIM cards.
Meanwhile, a separate entrapment operation in Lahug, Cebu City at 5 p.m. also on Jan. 15 caught two information technology (IT) students selling 2,148 registered SIM cards from different networks for P800 each.
The four suspects each face charges for violating only the SIM Registration Act in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
“If you are aware of anyone involved in the illegal online sale of registered SIM cards, please report it immediately to the PNP ACG so we can take appropriate action,” PNP-ACG Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang appealed to the public.
