The social media registration is a “last-minute insertion” by Senate Minority Leader Drilon, according to a House panel chair.
HOUSE PANEL CHAIR — Deputy Speaker Wes Gatchalian said that the provision on social media registration cited by President Rodrigo Duterte in vetoing the proposed SIM Card Registration Act was a “last-minute insertion” by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.
Deputy Speaker Gatchalian, who is one of the principal authors of the said measure at the House of Representatives, said that while he wants the proposed bill to become a law, he agrees with the President’s decision to veto it.
“Unfortunately, the last-minute insertion of Sen. Drilon to include the registration of social media providers is totally not in line with the essence of this bill,” he said. “There is nothing in the bill specifying how to register such a broad environment (internet). Though equally important, that provision should have been studied further and filed as a separate bill.”
He was referring to a provision that requires all social media networks to ask for the user’s real name and phone number upon the creation of their social media accounts.
The proposed bill mandates all public telecommunications entities to require the registration of subscriber identity mobile (SIM) cards as a prerequisite to their sale and activation. This measure aims to curb fraud and other crimes aided by SIM cards.
READ ALSO: President Duterte Vetoes Proposed SIM Card Registration Act
Malacañang earlier announced its veto owing to the said provision on social media registration, saying such needs a more thorough study.
“The President noted that the inclusion of social media providers in the registration requirement was not part of the original version of the bill and needs a more thorough study. Prior versions only mandated the registration of SIM cards,” Presidential Communications Secretary and acting Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a statement on Friday.
According to Andanar, while President Duterte hails Congress’ efforts to deter cybercrime incidents, the President is constrained to disagree with the inclusion of social media in the said measure without providing proper guidelines and definitions.
It was last February 2, 2022, when the Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the said bill.
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