Press Release
January 31, 2008

ID SYSTEM IN SULU MUST BE DISCONTINUED FOR HAVING NO LEGAL BASIS

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the mandatory issuance and wearing of identification cards by residents of Sulu should be disallowed for being illegal.

Pimentel said the wearing of IDs was ordered by the military without waiting for Congress to enact a law mandating a national ID system in accordance with a decision of the Supreme Court.

The ID system in Sulu was reportedly the brainchild of Col. Natalio Ecarma, commanding officer of the 3rd Marine Brigade stationed in Jolo Sulu, with the support of the provincial government which bear his signature.

Ecarma claimed that IDs would help military and police authorities in combating terrorism and crimes in the island-province.

Pimentel voice apprehensions that residents in Sulu found not wearing identification card would be harassed and perhaps detained by government troops, on suspicion that they are terrorists and criminals.

"I suggest to all concerned to revoke the IDs issued without any legal basis in Sulu," the senator from Mindanao said.

"The ID unnecessarily makes dissidents out of the residents of the province who think that IDs are illegal and uselessly create tensions there."

Pimentel asked the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines why it is tolerating this illegal activity, as he pointed out that even Malacañang has admitted that the mandatory issuance and wearing of IDs by the citizens could only be possible if Congress approves the corresponding law.

The ID system was first launched in Patikul town with a population of 50,000 but the plan of the AFP calls for implementing it in all municipalities of Sulu.

Pimentel has filed a bill institutionalizing a national ID system but it is intended to make it easy for the people to transact business with all government agencies, as well as with banks and other entities.

He noted that the ID system in Sulu had angered Muslim residents because the symbol of the cross is printed on the face of the ID card. The Muslim residents suspect that there is a hidden agenda behind the issuance of the IDs.

Some of them also remark that the ID system makes them feel that Sulu has become a "garrison state."

Pimentel said Sulu Governor Abdulsakur Tan must explain his alleged support of the ID system introduced by the military

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