RACU-CAR Arrests Couple for Selling Pre-Registered SIM Cards in Pangasinan
A couple will now be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 11934, also known as the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, following their arrest for selling pre-registered SIM cards in Pangasinan on November 26, 2024.
According to reports from the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit Cordillera Administrative Region (RACU-CAR), the suspects, identified as a 28-year-old female and a 31-year-old male, both residents of Pozorrubio, were arrested following an entrapment operation jointly conducted by personnel of the RACU-CAR and the Pozorrubio Police Station of the Police Regional Office 1.
The operatives discovered the couple’s illegal activities through social media, where they advertised the sale of pre-registered SIM cards in a buy-and-sell group. An undercover police officer then negotiated a transaction with the couple to meet in Brgy. Cablong, Pozorrubio. During the operation, the couple was arrested after selling 588 pieces of pre-registered and unregistered DITO SIM cards worth PhP8,820.00.
The marking and inventory of the seized evidence were conducted on-site in the presence of the suspects and witnesses. Subsequently, the suspects were taken to the Pozorrubio Police Station for documentation and proper disposition.
In his message, PCOL LARRY D BUANSI, Chief of RACU-CAR, emphasized the seriousness of the offense: “This operation underscores our commitment to enforcing the law and safeguarding public safety. The illegal trade of pre-registered SIM cards poses a significant threat to our digital security. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.”
Also, RACU-CAR encourages the public to report cybercrime-related activities by contacting their unit or its Cyber Response Teams through their hotlines or official social media accounts to help prevent the proliferation of illegal activities and protect the public from cybercrime. (PIO PRO-CAR / File Photo)
