The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday welcomed the passage into law of the Act mandating the implementation of one identification system which it claimed would eventually restrict criminals and terrorists from pulling off evil-minded acts.
Col. Edgardo Arevalo, spokesman of the AFP, said terrorists and criminals would have difficulty pursuing their wicked-minded plans and evil designs with the execution of the one identification system.
“We believe it will promote a peaceful and secure environment where terrorists, criminals, and other unscrupulous individuals will have a difficulty coping to pursue their evil designs and nefarious activities,” Arevalo stressed.
The national ID bill that was proposed in 2001, finally gained headway following its ratification by both Congress and signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last Monday.
The national ID will containe the full name, sex, blood type, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, address and front facing photo.
In related developments:
• With a price tag of P25 billion, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the National ID project should be able to solve the problem of 7.5-million Filipinos without birth certificates.
“That should be one of the outcomes of the project,” Recto said.
“If there will be a mass list-up and registration, then perhaps we can use this activity to end the plight of those without birth certificates.”
He said this could be looked into as one of the bonuses of the project.
“What I’m saying is that we should use the national ID platform as an opportunity to solve the quandary of those who do not have birth documents,” he also said.
He said an individual without or who could not present a birth certificate could still register for a national ID by presenting “alternative or additional documents to prove his or her identity.”
While the law states that the birth certificate is the basic documentary requirement for registration, he said this clause was inserted in cognizance of the reality that millions of Filipinos have no birth certificates.
• Lawmakers from the House of Representatives hailed President Duterte’s signing of the bill creating the national identification system.
Representative Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela, Albee Benitez of Negros Occidental. Raneo Abu of Batangas and Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte said putting up of Philippine System Identification Act (PhilSys) would enable more Filipinos to access vital services.
“It is a landmark legislation. Our countrymen have been waiting for it for the longest time,” said Albano, majority leader for the House of Representatives’ contingent to Commission on Appointments.
Benitez, chairman of the House committee on housing and urban development, shared a similar view. “It is about time the country shall be a national identification system. It will surely make government programs easier to implement.”
Abu said PhilSys would help interconnect the countless and redundant government IDs.
“This is very important in our fight against terrorism and other lawless elements. We expect the PSA to immediately implement this after the measure becomes a law,” said Abu.
Barbers, one of the principal sponsors of the PhilSys Act, also said that the new law was a proof that the Duterte administration was determined to pluck Filipinos out of poverty.
“The universal ID system is a progressive economic tool that will ensure every Filipino will have access to financial services and development opportunities. Majority of Filipinos are denied of financial services because they do not have identification cards,” said Barbers.
Militant organizations strongly opposed the ratification of one ID, fearing it would intrude into the privacy of the card holder.
The Commission on Human Rights, on the other hand, had a different take on the national ID system, citing the public would have an access to government services.
Col. Arevalo said criminal syndicates sporting different identities would have a hard time and would be obstructed from committing crimes.
“They can no longer assume multiple and or false identities to commit crimes that victimize our people. With the new identification system, we will be able to check and validate their [criminal, etc.]
identities,” Arevalo said.
Under the one ID, Arevalo explained the law would further isolate criminals from law-abiding citizens, citing “the former will remain in hiding and cannot avail of the mandated identification card lest they
be exposed to arrest and prosecution.”
“They will lose their freedom of movement; their ability to transact business wil be divested with no ID cards to present when demanded,” Arevalo said.
He believed the ID system shall facilitate government transactions and programs like census, promote transparency, and likewise spare our people from the burden of bringing with them several identification cards to establish their identities.
“In short, the law is a bane to criminals, terrorists and unscrupulous persons and groups; while it is a boon to law-abiding citizens and well-meaning individuals,” Arevalo said.
The Defense department also supported the national ID system which will help government address the gaps in the identification of citizens entitled to received government services, thereby making things more convenient for law-abiding Filipinos.
“Based on our experienced, armed conflicts and insurgencies are often rooted in poor governance and delivery of basis services,” said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
While we welcome the beneficial effects of this law on law enforcement operations, we assure the public that individual privacy will be respected. With PNA