BY VICTOR REYES and RAYMOND AFRICA

THE Armed Forces and the PNP are pressing for a national ID system targeting "criminals, rebels and terrorists" despite the Supreme Court’s 1998 ruling that such a set-up is unconstitutional for invading the citizens’ privacy on the pretext of facilitating delivery of basic services.

AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, told that the Supreme Court had already rejected a national ID system, said: "Decisions… situations could change over time. Probably, it’s in the manner of presentation."

"When you force the issue of national ID, getting more information that you need, then that is probably infringing on the rights of the people. But if you just incorporate in the ID what you really need for social services and for better community organizing, for better identification, simply that, then it is really debatable if it’s unconstitutional. After all, let me know what ID you have right now. Do you consider that an infringement on your rights?" he added.

BY JP LOPEZ

SENATORS yesterday slammed the military’s revival of proposals for national identification system as part of efforts to eradicate insurgency.

"The ticklish question is simple: In reviving the proposal, can we trust this government to respect the basic, constitutionally guaranteed rights of its citizens?" said majority leader Francis Pangilinan.

He noted that the Arroyo government has a number of times violated the Constitution as shown by Supreme Court decisions "in a string of landmark cases."