Adrian Magbiro LLB 1-A

POSITION PAPER ON THE PROPOSED NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION

Every time there is an earnest effort toward the adoption by the Philippines of a
unified national ID system, we are well aware of the heat that it generates and the
agitation by the parties that take part in the debate.1

A national identity card is defined as an identity card with photo, usable as an

identity card at least inside the country, and which is issued by an official
authority. Driver's licenses and other cards indicating certain permissions are not
counted as national identity cards.

The issue of having a National ID resurface after the 9/11 terror attack in the
United States. According to a 1996 publication by Privacy International, around
100 countries had enacted laws making identity cards compulsory. In these
countries, the card must be shown on demand by authorised personnel under
specified circumstances. In some countries alternative proof of identity, such as a
driving licence is acceptable. Privacy International said that "virtually no common
law country has a card"1

According to House Bill 6221, three sets of information shall be maintained under
the Filipino Identification System or FilSys: on the card, in a smart chip embedded
in the card, and in an electronic database kept and administered by the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA).

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On the card, the following information will be available: the cardholders Common
Reference Number (CRN), full name, a front-facing photograph, sex, birth date,
birthplace, permanent address, blood type and a barcode.

Recently in the Philippines the House Bill 6221 has been passed in its second
reading. Once passed into law, the proposed national identification system will
require all adult Filipinos to secure a Filipino ID card containing personal
information, such as their name, birth date, blood type, height, weight and
permanent address.2 Before this, a heated debate on our senators has occurred,
they are divided on whether a national identification (ID) system should be
implemented. Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senate President Pro Tempore
Ralph Recto expressed the belief that the move of Senator elect Panfilo Lacson to
push for the national ID system is timely and should be prioritized by the Senate.
According to Drilon, it's about time that the national ID be considered to be able to
help in curbing criminalities in various parts of the countries. It can be recalled that
Drilon opposed this move during the time of former President Fidel Ramos for fear
that this might be used to invade one's privacy3.

Pro Statement

The Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), an organization of eminent

economists, recently asked for the institution of a national ID system to promote
inclusive growth, and to safeguard peace and order.

Advantages of ID system. The FEF believes that the national ID system will,
among others: promote financial inclusion because it will enable many poor
and unbanked Filipinos to open bank accounts, something not possible
without a government-issued ID; help the government identify the
beneficiaries of welfare services; deter identity fraud online and offline,
thereby enhancing e-commerce; and prevent criminals from faking their
identities.4

Also some advocates of the National Identification argue that:

We really need a unified ID that will include our SSS number, GSIS, voters
ID number, TIN . . . All the relevant info, he said. The ID card will include
the persons photograph, name, birth date, gender, date of issue, signature of
owner, and corresponding individual serial number issued by the Philippine
Statistics Authority.
Under the measure, the Philippine Statistics Authority will be the
implementing agency of the ID program. It will be tasked to create and
maintain a Filipino Citizen Registry. It is better for one agency, rather than
several, to be issuing the ID card.
Filipinos can get the non-transferable ID card when they reach the age of 18.
When the ID card is presented to any government agency or for
identification purposes, no other additional identification card will be
required.5

Statement of those Against:

The Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), a non-profit organization, has
issued a statement on the proposed national ID system.

They fear that the proposed National Identification might be used and abused
by some authorities. They also pointed out that it is A cure worse than the
disease6

Dutertes feverish push to implement a National ID system is part of his

machinations to establish a totalitarian state of mass surveilance, population
control, social, political and criminal profiling and mass murder.7

The draft law of the National ID system has been bulldozed by Dutertes
supermajority of political allies in the House of Representatives. Will
the GRP Senate pass the proposed ID system with similar dispatch and prove
itself to be no more than a rubberstamp than the lower house is?

The Party joins the Filipino people in opposing the National ID system. In the
hands of the Duterte regime, especially its security, military and police
agencies, the National ID system will serve as an additional weapon for fascist
suppression. There will be terrible results once such a weapon is placed in the
hands of a strong-man tyrant as Duterte who is obsessed with summary killings
and mass murder as solution to social problems, to silence his political
opponents and suppress peoples resistance.

A national system of identification has nothing to do with the efficiency in the

provision of public service. Under the social welfare system of Norway, where
there is no such system of national identification, everyone has access to
advanced public health care. In contrast, in the United States, which has one of
the most extensive system of collecting and centralizing personal information,
public access to health care, especially of the economically marginalized, is one
of the worst in the world.

Computerization does not make a clean government. This is starkly

demonstrated by continuing widespread corruption in government agencies
which has computerized its record-keeping and processing. Manipulation of
election results in the Philippines have become more widespread, albeit less
obvious, through automation.
MY OPINION

In the present situation of our country where drugs proliferate and crimes
related to it is high up to the ceiling, it is time for us to make and take steps on
preventing it, if not totally eradicate. The fears of those against, especially by
the CPP are such a baseless statement that only stands on a speculation and in
what if. It will only bring fears to those who have illegal activities because
having a unified national identification is like an eagles eye on the sky that
could watch our day to day activities. But of course if you are a law abiding
citizen, why be fear that government is watching you? We should be thankful
because the government is doing its duty, to protect its citizens.

The proposed National Identification will have its long way before it could
really put into realization. For me I support the bill, it is better to make some
steps that could bring changes than to wait watching the wheels and do nothing.
REFERENCES

1
MANILA TIMES June 20, 2017

2
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/927376/philippine-news-updates-national-
identification-system-house-bill-6221-filipino-identification-system-filsys-
philippine-statistics-authority#ixzz4wPjdDuhc

3
SUNSTAR MANILA June 27, 2016

4
Daily Inquirer June 12, 2016

5
The Manila Times June 20, 2016

6
Statement | National ID system: A cure worse than the disease? July 11, 2017

7
Information Bureau Communist Party of the Philippines Sept. 5, 2017