MANILA, Philippines - It is time for serious discussion on the need to register pre-paid SIM cards as one measure to fight child sex abuse and other crimes, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also warned parents that they face prosecution if they allow their children to be used for Internet pornography.

PNP-ACG Director Senior Superintendent Guillermo Lorenzo T.

The raid led by the chief of Regional Anti-Cybercrime Office 3, Police Chief Inspector Ronelio O Manaog, came in the wake of an alarm raised by the PNP-ACG over the presence of foreign and domestic cybercrime operators involved in cyber pornography, cybersex dens, illegal gambling, credit card fraud, and identity theft.

Eleazar said they raided the office of principal suspect Florendo Holgado, armed with a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10175 issued by Judge Richard A. The arrested suspects included seven women who were caught in the act of engaging, chatting, and showing recorded videos of females doing simulated sex.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier was quoted as saying she has no legal objection to the proposed legislation requiring the registration of SIM card buyers. Vicente Sotto III, however, said there is no need to pass a law requiring registration of prepaid SIM, saying there is an existing NTC directive.

Telecommunications firms, on the other hand, questioned the NTC directive and were able to secure a TRO.