A TAIWANESE national and his two local cohorts on Wednesday were arrested by members of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group for illegal possession of more than 7,000 registered sim cards in an operation in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.
Arrested were Taiwanese national Cheng Tsung Huang, who was found to be using the Filipino name “Rodney Serrano,” and his Filipino cohorts Rosemarie de Juan alias “Charlene dela Cruz” and Rodolfo de Juan Jr.
The raid was conducted at Blk. 16, L2, Unit A, Phase F in Francisco Homes, Narra, San Jose del Monte City on the strength of a Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data issued by Judge Felizardo Montero Jr. of the Malolos City Regional Trial Court Branch 11.
The operation was also launched amid the stepped-up campaign against all forms of online scams in the country.
PNP-ACG men, along with a representative from Globe Telecom Inc. and local barangay officials, served the search warrant.
Seized were 13 cellular phones, three IPads, two system units, 332 SIM Cards with SIM Bed, 6,976 assorted Globe and Smart SIM cards and assorted identification cards and bank transaction receipts.
A check showed that many of the confiscated SIM cards have verified accounts on various e-wallet platforms like GCash and PayPal as well as a number of e-bank accounts.
Based on investigation, the accused were monitored to have been buying registered SIM cards for at least P400 each from poor people since August last year .
Police said the SIM cards could be used in fraudulent transactions and other crimes.
Under RA 11934 or the SIM Registration Act, the sale or transfer of registered SIM cards is prohibited and violators may face the penalty of six months to as much as six-years imprisonment or a fine of P100,000 to as much as P300,000 upon conviction.
Persons selling their registered SIM cards would also find themselves in “hot water” in the future in case their registered numbers turn out to have been used to commit criminal activities, including online scams.
Charges for violation of Section 14 or presumption and prima facie evidence of intent to defraud of Republic Act 8484 were filed against the arrested suspects.
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