MANILA, Philippines — Telecommunications companies are being pressed to explain how pre-registered SIM cards continue to be sold online, raising concerns over their alleged potential use in fraudulent activities.

Senator Win Gatchalian said the sale of pre-registered SIMs on Facebook signals the continued use of SIM cards for scams and other illicit operations, similar to how illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) exploit digital platforms for criminal activities.

“Globe, Smart, and Dito must explain how bulk pre-registered SIMs are still making it to the market despite registration safeguards,” Gatchalian said in a statement. 

“These telecommunications providers must urgently review their systems that enable criminals to abuse SIM registration and enforce stricter measures.”

The senator also urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to intensify random compliance checks and implement stricter policies to flag suspicious registrations.

“I urge the NTC to step up its random compliance check to prevent the rampant abuse of the SIM Registration Law and implement policies to flag suspicious registration,” he said.

Gatchalian further called on Facebook and other social media platforms to take down listings of pre-registered SIM cards and strengthen their monitoring mechanisms to prevent their proliferation.