Remulla: SIM card law a tool vs sexual exploitation of children

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla has asked lawmakers to hasten the release of the implementing rules and regulations of the SIM Card Registration Act in order to boost the government's campaign against the online sexual exploitation of children or OSEC.

The call of Remulla came after United Nations special rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children Mama Fatima Singhateh paid him a courtesy visit yesterday morning at the Department of Justice in Manila.

Remulla said the SIM Card Registration Act is an important tool against OSEC.

"We're asking Congress, the Senate and the House, to speed up the IRR for the SIM Card Registration Act for it to be executory and help us identify all the perpetrators. We know that they are using prepaid and data services in the online sexual cases and in trafficking children," Remulla said.

Secretary Remulla said he handed Singhateh an official letter outlining the government's efforts to combat the problem of child sexual exploitation.

"We also told her about our problems with our existing laws, including our Anti-Money Laundering mechanisms which are very restrictive," Remulla said.

Shared action

He also asked the UN rapporteur to push for sharing of databases among member countries of the UN with regard to OSEC.

The DoJ and other concerned agencies earlier launched an all-out war against OSEC after data showed that the country has become the top source of such illegal content, he said.

Remulla acknowledged that one of the major challenges in addressing the problem is technology, which is vital in tracing and arresting the perpetrators.

He earlier warned telecom companies and Internet service providers to perform their obligations under the law that requires them to install software that will block access to or transmittal of any form of child pornography on the Internet.

The DoJ chief was referring to Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.

Under the law, ISPs are required to notify authorities within seven days of any form of child pornography being transmitted using their servers or facilities.