I fully agree with this  . . .

Photo credit:  http://uthmag.com/

DOJ backs SIM card registration bills

By Edu Punay (The Philippine Star) | Updated December 3, 2013 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has supported bills in the House of Representatives seeking to regulate mobile communication through registration of prepaid SIM cards.

In a two-page legal opinion, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she sees nothing wrong with the enactment of the proposed SIM Card Registration Act that will ensure the safety and welfare of the public.

De Lima believes it would aid law enforcers in tracking down criminals who would use mobile phones to commit heinous crimes like kidnapping and bombing.

“We interpose no legal or constitutional objection to the proposed bills which are within the purview of what is embodied in Article II on the Declaration of Principles and State Policies of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, particularly Section 5 thereof, which promotes the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare being essential for the enjoyment of all the people,” she said.

The DOJ chief also stressed that the passage of House Bill Nos. 525, 858, 1519, 2444, 2588 and 2642 is within the power of Congress.

“We submit that it is within the power of Congress to enact laws that are for public good so as to ensure that public safety and public welfare are given primordial importance over business interests and personal comfort,” she said.

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1“We also support the penal clauses indicated in the proposed bills as well as the provisions requiring the confidentiality of personal information which may only be disclosed upon written order of a competent court to ensure that individual rights are still protected from reckless disclosure of information,” she said.

“We also support the penal clauses indicated in the proposed bills as well as the provisions requiring the confidentiality of personal information which may only be disclosed upon written order of a competent court to ensure that individual rights are still protected from reckless disclosure of information,” she said.

De Lima, however, suggested that a consolidated version of the proposed legislation be adopted.

House legislators are eyeing to require the registration of prepaid mobile SIM cards in a bid to promote public safety and prevent crime.

House Bill Nos. 525, 858, 1519, 2444, 2588, and 2642, which will be collectively called the SIM Card Registration Act, would require telecommunication companies to set up a “foolproof system” to identify prepaid mobile subscribers - which account for more than 90 percent of the combined 109 million cellular subscriber accounts of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Globe as of June.

Proponents of the bill are looking into registration of prepaid SIM cards as post-paid accounts are already registered with the mobile networks.

Read the original story by clicking here

References: Controlling the misuse of phone SIM cards – Dubai Campaign

Let us shift to the Parliamentary Form of Government

I am convinced the parliamentary form is better than the presidential one.

It is time for the Philippines to try it.  Really try it (not the cosmetic way that Pres. Marcos did before).

Read related article . . .

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Dismissing Gridlock: A Case for Parliamentary Systems

BY LEE DRUTMAN • May 06, 2010

One system of democratic government is consistently better, say two political scientists,

and it’s not the one we have in the United States.

Read the original article by clicking here.

Laws and Applicability

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"Impractical Laws are Doomed to Fail"

Improving the Philippine Justice System

This article was originally posted at http://scopemix.wordpress.com/

Photo credit:  http://martynemko.blogspot.jp/

This idea may not be perfect. But to make our justice system fairer to poor people, what if we will do as follows:

1. Only the government should provide LITIGATION lawyers to both complainants and respondents. This way, rich or poor will have an even footing. The role of Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) will be revised then.

2. To minimize if not completely avoid abuses of this system, a minimum fixed service fee will be paid to the government (through PAO) not to the lawyers directly.

3. For the government to have a constant pool of litigation lawyers, all BAR passers must first be required to serve for at least 5 years in PAO before they can engage in private practice. The government will provide the salaries to these lawyers.

4. Private practicing lawyers should serve only as legal consultants. Corporate lawyers for example should be in advisory positions only. When it comes to litigation, the private lawyer’s involvement should be limited to advising. The litigation itself should be done only by PAO lawyers.

What do you think?