Maza slams revival of Arroyo's national ID system

“The National ID system is Arroyo’s dog tag that will only serve her vested interests in the 2010 elections.”

Thus said Senatorial candidate Rep.Liza Maza of Gabriela today as she slammed the revival of the unified identification (ID) system that was reported to be implemented this year with the signing in the firstquarter of the memorandum of agreement among the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), and Home Development Mutual Fund (PagIbig).

“The national ID system is repressive and unconstitutional and will not solve the problem of criminality, terrorism and the lack of access to social services in the country.  Instead, it can be used to deprive anyone from availing of basic health services, education and even the right to travel for failure to produce a national ID card. Worst, any person can be presumed fugitive or even a terrorist for failure to produce such ID,” Maza said.

According to Maza, this scheme has already been ditched in the past as various sectors have expressed opposition against the National ID system as it infringes on the Bill of Rights of the people especially their right to privacy and movement. Two years ago, Maza has filed House Resolution 419 expressing her extreme opposition against the policy.

Maza cited the Supreme Court ruling that declared the 1997 Administrative Order of former President Fidel Ramos mandating a national ID system intrusive and unconstitutional on the grounds that the right to privacy is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution and only Congress should pass a law involving national
identifications.

“Considering that government institutions especially law-enforcement and intelligence agencies are wracked with scandals related to drugs, corruption, kidnapping, extortion, and incompetence, the idea of a national ID card system is bound to be a too! for abuses and human rights violation,” Maza said.

Maza also stressed that undertaking the said project will be another burden on the national budget and the Filipino people. ###