NTC, PNP to crack down on shops selling stolen cell phones
By Erwin Lemuel Oliva, INQ7.net
THE NATIONAL Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Philippine National Police will start cracking down on mobile phone retail shops, dealers, and repair shops allegedly selling stolen handsets this month, NTC Deputy Commissioner Jorge Sarmiento told INQ7.net Thursday.
The NTC and the PNP are set to sign an agreement towards closer coordination between them, to go after violators of Philippine anti-fencing laws with the sale of stolen handsets as "second-hand" units, Sarmiento added.
"The NTC met with PNP station commanders Wednesday to discuss ways how we can help each other run after people, dealers, resellers, and repair shops buying and selling stolen or snatched cell phones. A memorandum of agreement will be signed in two weeks between the two agencies that would signal the start of a nationwide crackdown," the NTC official said.
Local authorities have recently raided retail shops in a popular mall in Greenhills, San Juan, after they traced the stolen handsets of two local television reporters.
A distant cousin of Congressman Francis Escudero was also killed on January 19, 2006 during a cell phone-snatching incident, police reported last week.
The NTC has required last year cell phone retail and repair shops, as well as dealers, to register with the NTC, following the growing problem of cell phone theft in the Philippines.
The same NTC rules now require cell phone dealers and retail shops to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of each unit sold in the Philippines.
According to Webopedia, the IMEI is a unique number given to every single mobile phone, typically found on the battery’s back. IMEI numbers of cell phones connected to a GSM network are stored in a database containing all valid mobile phone equipment. When a phone is reported stolen or is not type approved, the number is marked invalid and the handset is blocked from a network. However, special software now allows tech-savvy people to tamper with a handset's IMEI – an act, the NTC rules say, is now illegal.
The NTC has been implementing a "blacklisting" system where stolen mobile phones are blocked on the basis of the 15-digit IMEI code.
Until formal agreement is inked between the agency and the local police, Sarmiento warns local shops to comply with NTC rules.
"We'll start cracking down on those have not registered with us in the meantime. After we sign the MOA, we'll go nationwide," the NTC official added.
He added that the NTC has been conducting an information drive since September 2005 in malls in Metro Manila, giving local shops and cell phone dealers a fair warning.
"With the recent developments, we're now asking the PNP to coordinate with us, and assist us in our crackdown," he added.
THE NATIONAL Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Philippine National Police will start cracking down on mobile phone retail shops, dealers, and repair shops allegedly selling stolen handsets this month, NTC Deputy Commissioner Jorge Sarmiento told INQ7.net Thursday.
The NTC and the PNP are set to sign an agreement towards closer coordination between them, to go after violators of Philippine anti-fencing laws with the sale of stolen handsets as "second-hand" units, Sarmiento added.
"The NTC met with PNP station commanders Wednesday to discuss ways how we can help each other run after people, dealers, resellers, and repair shops buying and selling stolen or snatched cell phones. A memorandum of agreement will be signed in two weeks between the two agencies that would signal the start of a nationwide crackdown," the NTC official said.
Local authorities have recently raided retail shops in a popular mall in Greenhills, San Juan, after they traced the stolen handsets of two local television reporters.
A distant cousin of Congressman Francis Escudero was also killed on January 19, 2006 during a cell phone-snatching incident, police reported last week.
The NTC has required last year cell phone retail and repair shops, as well as dealers, to register with the NTC, following the growing problem of cell phone theft in the Philippines.
The same NTC rules now require cell phone dealers and retail shops to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of each unit sold in the Philippines.
According to Webopedia, the IMEI is a unique number given to every single mobile phone, typically found on the battery’s back. IMEI numbers of cell phones connected to a GSM network are stored in a database containing all valid mobile phone equipment. When a phone is reported stolen or is not type approved, the number is marked invalid and the handset is blocked from a network. However, special software now allows tech-savvy people to tamper with a handset's IMEI – an act, the NTC rules say, is now illegal.
The NTC has been implementing a "blacklisting" system where stolen mobile phones are blocked on the basis of the 15-digit IMEI code.
Until formal agreement is inked between the agency and the local police, Sarmiento warns local shops to comply with NTC rules.
"We'll start cracking down on those have not registered with us in the meantime. After we sign the MOA, we'll go nationwide," the NTC official added.
He added that the NTC has been conducting an information drive since September 2005 in malls in Metro Manila, giving local shops and cell phone dealers a fair warning.
"With the recent developments, we're now asking the PNP to coordinate with us, and assist us in our crackdown," he added.
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
11:24 AM
Resolutions, Meeting Agenda, Minutes of Board Meeting and other pertinent information regarding the transparent conduct of the board are posted here for ready reference
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home