Bam warns vs discrimination in proposed ID system

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV yesterday cautioned the government against using a national ID system not for its intended purpose, but to discriminate Filipinos based on their religious beliefs.

Aquino, who filed one of the bills calling for the establishment of a national ID system in the country, aired his concern about the intention of some local government units to issue identification cards for Muslims only. 

“Singling Muslims out, giving them an ID and branding them as a potential threat will not make our communities safer. It will only sow animosity,” he said.

Senate Bill 917 filed by Aquino seeks to establish a unified identification system that will be used as sole required identification in any government transaction.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will implement the ID system.

??Aquino said the national ID would pave the way for more effective ways of delivering government services such as anti-poverty programs and other social services to improve the quality of life for all.

“Let’s not allow it to be used as a tool for discrimination,” he said.

Several Muslim groups and human rights advocates have aired their apprehension over the proposed Muslim ID of local government units, which was supported by Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

“Let us use the ID system for the right purposes – to protect Filipinos and provide them with the benefits. Let us not use this to discriminate certain sectors,” Aquino said.

The senator has also pushed for a stronger anti-discrimination law in the country through the filing of Senate Bill 683, which seeks to prohibit and penalize discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, ethnicity, race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, civil status and HIV status.