THE House of Representatives led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Monday approved on third and final reading House Bill 5973 or the proposed “Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act.”
The bill, which garnered 181 affirmative and six negative votes, as well as zero abstention, seeks to help law enforcement agencies in tracking down delinquents who use mobile phones with post-paid and pre-paid SIM cards to pursue nefarious activities such as kidnapping for ransom and petty crimes like theft.
It would then establish a system of Sale and Registration of SIM Cards for all users by registering pertinent data in a form set up for the purpose.
The House likewise passed on third and final reading HB 4553, which would amend Article 70 of the Revised Penal Code. The bill received 167 affirmative, seven negative votes, and zero abstention.
This would remove the 40-year maximum period of imprisonment as provided in the said Article to ensure that justice is served to Filipino victims and their families.
Other measures that hurdled third and final reading were: 1) HB 9981, declaring the maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines and 2) HB 10521, strengthening professionalism and promoting the continuity of policies and modernization initiatives in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Today’s hybrid session was presided over by Speaker Velasco, as well as by Deputy Speakers Isidro Ungab, Bernadette Herrera, and Divina Grace Yu.
