PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde tells the media of their “100%” support to the passage of the National ID System and SIM card registration laws in the country in order to deter crimes more easily. (INQUIRER.net/Gab Lalu)
Amid concerns regarding the proposed National ID System and SIM card registration, the Philippine National Police (PNP) supported the measures “100%” saying both could be tools in preventing and fighting criminal activities.
“Maganda po ito, ‘yong national ID system. We see nothing wrong with it,” PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde said on Wednesday during the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay.
“We support that, one hundred percent,” he added.
According to Albayalde, the proposed measures can help effectively deter crimes since both will enable easier and quicker identification of criminals.
“Mukhang tayo na lang ang walang national ID. If you are a law-abiding citizen, ano ang ikinakatakot mo sa National ID?” Albayalde asked.
“Parang din ‘yang sa cellphone, ‘yong pagbili ng sim card. Dito lang sa Pilipinas pwede kang bumili ng sim card tapos pwedeng mo nang gamitin, and then you throw it away,” he added.
In a previous report, the Senate ratified the Philippine Identification System Act. According to Senator Panfilo Lacson who spearheaded the passage of the bill in the senate, that a unified national ID (UMID) will be created if this is enacted into law.
READ: Senate ratifies national ID system
On the other hand, the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act has been approved on third and final reading at the House of Representatives.
READ: DICT: Customers can keep unique, personal mobile numbers under proposed law
Privacy and data breach?
Several groups and lawmakers have been wary of the National ID System, saying it violates people’s right to privacy as it may be used and abused to go after critics of the government.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago recently said the measure would be an “additional ammunition” for the Duterte administration.
READ: National ID system infringes on right to privacy – solons
For Albayalde however, the National ID System would have no use against government critics since they have openly criticized and thus, already divulged their identities.
“Sino ba ang against dyan kung hindi sila (left-leaning groups)? There must be something within them that they want to hide,” the PNP chief noted.
Albayalde nevertheless acknowledged the still data security in the Philippines that could make information stated in the unified ID susceptible to leaks and breaches.
“What’s really important siguro dito is ‘yong privacy, siguro ito ‘yong concern. Alam naman natin na hindi talaga kasi fool-proof ‘yong data (security) natin,” Albayalde said.
“It can always be hacked, kasi mababaw ‘yong secrecy. Kailangan natin siguro na mapakita sa ating mga kababayan na safe sa amin ‘yong data ninyo, at hindi ito pwedeng basta-basta ilabas,” he also said. /kga