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.

PNP chief Avelino Razon allayed fears the proposed ID system would violate rights as he said a national ID would only be an integration of the basic information on a person just like those found in other identification cards such as the ones issued by the Land Transportation Office, Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System or PhilHealth.

"Hindi ito unconstitutional. How can it be unconstitutional kung meron kang ID, mga media, meron kaming ID na PNP…Kaya nga hindi naman natin ipe-pressure yung mga mamayan to have an ID kasi meron na silang ID," Razon said when asked if government would push through with implementing a national ID system despite the Supreme Court’s decision.

He said the national ID concept can also be called a national database system.

A national ID system was first proposed in 1996 under Administrative Order 308 issued by President Fidel Ramos. The Supreme Court in 1998 declared the order unconstitutional, saying it "pressures the people to surrender their privacy by giving information about themselves on the pretext that it will facilitate delivery of basic services."

But the tribunal in April 2006 upheld President Arroyo’s Executive Order No. 420 implementing a national ID system for government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations.

The military revived the proposal for a national ID during a command conference Monday, with the aim of accelerating its objective of ending the insurgency problem.

Arroyo wants the objective attained before her term ends in 2010.

She tasked the defense department to study the military’s proposal.

Esperon, asked about the mounting opposition to a national ID system, said the military’s proposal was "just an expression of our support to a national ID system because that’s also advocated by other agencies and by other sectors so there is even a proposed bill on that."

BENEFITS

Esperon said the proposal would benefit not only security forces but also civilians.

"I’m sure neighborhoods will benefit…For what? For better community work, for social work, or for simply identifying people. That can even speed up the identification of voters," he said.

Esperon said civilians would benefit more than the security forces from the proposed national ID system.

"We want to look at the national ID as a tool not only for security but more importantly, for other functions of government like provision of basic services, even for planning inputs. When you know better the population by way of that identification system, certainly you can plan better," said Esperon.

In other countries, Esperon said, national ID systems are in place for "social benefits."

NOT THE SOLE SOLUTION

Esperon also said in the countryside, some establishments prefer IDs over residence certificates in dealing with the people. He said residence certificates are not tamper-proof, "so there should be a better way of knowing people, not for security reasons, but simply for belonging to the community."

Esperon admitted a national ID system is not the sole solution to the insurgency problem.

As of end 2007, military officials said the communist New People’s Army has 5,760 fighters, down by about 1,400 men the year before.

"The national ID will not win the insurgency, that’s oversimplifying it. That’s why our internal security operation 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 said.

CENTRAL DATABASE

Razon said information gathered from past IDs will be put in a central database for use not only for the "delivery" of basic services, but also to fight criminality, insurgency, and terrorism by way of establishing the identity of strangers in certain areas.

He said criminals use aliases and false to hide "under the cloak of anonymity."

"We will not come up with a new ID na iisa lang… Titignan natin kung paano natin ma-a-assure ang integrity noon in such as that na yung data niyan, pag pinasok dito sa ating database, ay assured na ang taong sinasabi na si Juan dela Cruz, is really Juan dela Cruz," he said.

Razon also said adopting a national ID system does not require the passage of a law, contrary to the statement of Sen. Miriam Santiago.

He said existing ID cards like driver’s license and IDs from PhilHealth, GSIS and SSS would simply be integrated to come up with a national ID system.

"Ang kailangan na lang ay i-safeguard natin yung integrity nung mga ID system na ito para walang makakapag-fake nito at walang gagawa ng ibang identity," he said.

IDENTIFYING TAXPAYERS

Members of President Arroyo’s economic team are banking on the proposed ID system to improve the security situation and help identify taxpayers.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and Trade Secretary Peter Favila said they expect the issue to be discussed in a briefing with the business sector.

"Business is more concerned about security. Anything that will assure them of security, they will support it. Always ang binabantayan naman ng tao diyan e if there is abuse. Kaya nga para sa akin nasa implementation iyan," Favila said.

He said the ID system works in other countries and he sees no reason why it should not work out in the Philippines.

"If we have the proper implementation, then we can benefit for the purpose for which it is being put in place," he said.

Teves said they are open to the concept of a national ID system as it would help identify all taxpayers and eventually broaden the tax base in the country. – With Jocelyn Montemayor