AFP allays fears of public for national ID system

By Ronron
January 8, 2008

The public should not be afraid of the proposed National Identification system because this will not only be beneficial to national security, it is also for their personal convenience in availing government services.

This was the message Tuesday of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. even as he also admitted that the system is not really enough for the government to win over the problem of insurgency and terrorism.

When the AFP recommended to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Monday the implementation of the national ID system, some sectors quickly rejected the proposal out of fear that it will be used to infringe on privacy and violate human rights.

“The National ID scheme revival comes from the same anti-rights menu as the Human Security Act and Anti-Subversion Law. Given the Philippine experience in the context of the dark idea, this is a surveillance net that will invade the right to privacy and allow involuntary intrusions to our lives,” said Atty. Edre Olalia, President of the International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL).

But Esperon said the proposed ID system is no different from the ones being used now by every Filipino.

“Let me know what ID you have right now. Do you consider that an infringement on your rights?” Esperon asked a reporter during yesterday afternoon’s press conference after their two-day command conference at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City ended.

“We want to look at the national ID system as a tool, not only for security but more importantly, for other functions of government like provision of basic services, even for planning inputs,” the military chief said.

He went on to say: “Indeed, the national ID could serve our ends as security elements. But more than serving our needs, we also believe that it can be more to the advantage of the individual to be carrying an ID for himself. One (example is when) you go to an establishment, they need your identification.”

Esperon cited in particular the people in remote provinces who just rely on their residential certificates for official identification purposes. He said the problem with said certificate is it is not tamper-proof.

“That will only delay what they want to get. Whereas, if they already have an ID, then it becomes a convenient tool for them to carry out their business,” Esperon said.

Asked why should the proposal come then from the AFP if the primary purpose of the national ID system is for social services, Esperon said: “That’s just an expression of our support to a National ID system because that’s also advocated by other agencies and by other sectors.”

“The national ID will not win the insurgency. That’s why our internal security operations is not hinged on a national ID. That’s probably one that is considered but you cannot win an insurgency with a national ID. Definitely not,” he added.

But Esperon said he hopes that over time, the people will be open-minded to the said proposal./DMS