In a significant crackdown on illegal activities, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) arrested 38 individuals in January 2025 for the unauthorized online sale of registered SIM cards. Acting Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang reported that these arrests were made during 31 entrapment operations conducted throughout the month. Among those detained was a minor, who has been placed under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development for appropriate intervention. The police also confiscated 7,900 registered SIM cards, 19 of which were connected to e-wallets and bank accounts. The suspects now face charges under the SIM Registration Act and the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, both linked to the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Yang urged the public to avoid buying registered SIM cards and to ensure their own SIMs are properly registered.
In addition to the SIM card crackdown, the PNP-ACG also arrested six individuals for online sexual abuse during separate operations from January 25 to 30. One arrest involved a 33-year-old man named ‘Dan’ in Manila, who was caught sharing explicit content of a 16-year-old female victim. He faces charges under the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Another arrest was of a 28-year-old man, ‘Bern’, in Calabanga, Camarines Sur, for posting defamatory statements and explicit photos of his ex-fiancée on social media, along with threats to release intimate videos. He will be charged with computer-related identity theft, grave coercion, and violations of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, all in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Lastly, ‘John’ and three accomplices were arrested in Basista, Pangasinan for sextortion, involving a 19-year-old female college student. They face charges of robbery with grave threat, grave coercion, and robbery with intimidation of persons, all under the Revised Penal Code and linked to the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Yang emphasized the PNP-ACG’s commitment to combating digital exploitation and ensuring that perpetrators face legal consequences.