THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in Northern Mindanao reported a surge in complaints about text message scams but acknowledged its limited authority to act on the issue, referring cases to law enforcement agencies.
At a media forum organized by the Philippine Information Agency today, November 19, NTC Legal Officer Atty. Joanne Marie Pacuribot said the office receives daily reports of scam incidents.
“Our office receives complaints almost every day about scams,” Pacuribot said, adding that these are forwarded to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police's Cybercrime Unit.
Pacuribot pointed to gaps in the law, particularly regarding SIM card ownership, allowing individuals to possess multiple cards without restrictions.
She noted that the NTC has proposed legislative amendments to address these loopholes.
Despite the implementation of SIM card registration, scams persist. Vixter Abaday, NTC’s Enforcement and Operations Chief, confirmed reports of pre-registered SIM cards being sold in markets.
“We received reports from our Central Office about pre-registered SIMs being sold at markets like Cogon and Agora,” Abaday said.
The issue has been referred to the Department of Justice.
Meanwhile, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT-10) Director Sittie Rahma Alawi admitted the challenges in countering online scammers and hackers.
Instead, the agency focuses on cybersecurity awareness initiatives, including training sessions and real-life hacking scenarios for youth.
“We lack cybersecurity experts,” Alawi said, encouraging students to consider careers in government cybersecurity roles.
She pointed out the importance of building expertise to combat the growing prevalence of cybercrime nationwide.
The NTC and DICT continue to push for stronger legal frameworks and public awareness to address text scams and online threats.
