Bishop hopes national ID system will not be abused

A Catholic bishop urged the people to be vigilant of possible abuse of government power under the national identification system.

While he did not made a categorical stand on the new law, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said it requires the need for vigilance to protect the society and the people’s privacy rights.

“Let us hope for the best and this law will not be abused,” said Pabillo, who also chairs the Commission on the Laity of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday signed into law a measure that will establish a single national ID system for all citizens and resident aliens of the Philippines.

Duterte said the Philippine System Identification Act (PhilSys Act) would reduce corruption and enhance governance.

Bishop Ruperto Santos, who heads the CBCP’s Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, said he is hoping that the law would be helpful to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“It is hoped that national ID would be especially beneficial to our OFWs as it would assist them properly for their needs at different agencies against bribery and red tapes,” he said.