‘National ID system to improve security’

SEN. Panfilo Lacson downplayed on Sunday the warning raised by some groups that the passage of the national identification system bill would pose threats to security and people’s privacy, saying only enemies of the government and those who use “aliases” will be affected by the measure.

The measure seeks to establish the Philippine Identification System ( PhilSys) that can be used in all transactions requiring IDs.

He said people are required to present several government- issued IDs when opening a bank account, applying for a loan, renewing their passport or driver’s license, among others.

Lacson said he finds inconsistent the claim of those who are saying that a national ID system infringes on people’s right to privacy, noting personal information are already contained in passports, driver licenses, and other government- issued IDs.

“To those criticizing the measure, don’t they have driver’s license, or voter’s ID because the information stated on those IDs including biometrics are the same information that will be included in the national ID. So why are they complaining when they already underwent the process?” he pointed out.

The senator said only those who use aliases or enemies of the government would be negatively affected by PhilSys.

“So this concern of the leftists, members Abu Sayyaf group, and other enemies of government [ can be understood] because with the ID system, it would be easy to identity who is who,” added Lacson, the sponsor and one of the authors of the bill.

The Bicameral Conference Committee last week approved the reconciled version of the bill, and both the Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to ratify it today so President Rodrigo Dutere could sign it into law.

“This [ national ID] will be a landmark legislation because it is only under the Duterte administration that it would be enacted,” Lacson said.

The national ID system was first introduced during the time of former president Fidel Ramos through Executive Order ( EO) 308. However, it did not push though after the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional citing the need for legislation.

Another attempt was made during the term of former president Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo through EO 420, harmonizing all government- issued IDs, calling it the Unified Multi- Purpose Identification System ( UMID).

The UMID is still being issued by select government agencies but does not serve as a national ID.

Malacañang earlier said the President is ready to sign the proposed national ID system into law once it is ratified by Congress.