THE House of Representatives has passed on second reading a bill seeking to impose stricter penalties on automated teller machine (ATM) hackers and scammers.

House Bill (HB) 6710, passed on second reading last Tuesday, Jan. 23, seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 and declare “fraudulent activities that ultimately undermine the trust of the public in the banking industry” as a form of economic sabotage and a heinous crime.

These offenses are deemed economic sabotage: hacking of a bank’s system; skimming 50 or more ATM cards; and acts affecting 50 or more online banking accounts, credit cards, ATM cards, and debit cards.

The measure raised the maximum sanction to life imprisonment and a fine of up to P5 million. The current law only imposes a penalty of P10,000 or twice the value obtained by the offender or imprisonment of 20 years at most.

Sought for comment about the bill, Land Bank of the Philippines president Alex V. Buenaventura said in a text message: “Stricter penalties are very timely [and] appropriate for ATM scammers.”

He added: “In fact, the penalties should be as punitive as those imposed on the crime of plunder.”

Also sought for comment, Bank of Philippine Islands executive vice-president Ramon L. Jocson said: “Safety and security of our clients’ accounts is always top priority. This development strengthens our own initiatives to ensure that untoward activities are minimized, if not eliminated.” — Minde Nyl R. Dela Cruz

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