Palace supports ID card sytem for Metro’s Muslim communities

Malacañang welcomed yesterday the proposed identification card system for Muslim communities in Metro Manila as a step forward in the government’s peace and order campaign.

Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye told Radio Mindanao Network in an interview that the proposed ID system can be very effective in weeding out criminal elements if implemented properly.

Bunye clarified that the program was the initiative of Muslim organizations and will be voluntary.

"This will be a great help in our peace and order campaign since the communities themselves are the ones implementing their own ID system," Bunye said in Filipino. "We are treating this as a good initiative and we will encourage similar arrangements in other places," he added.

The concept of an ID system for the Muslim communities in the metropolis has been proposed before as a means of ensuring that the areas will not be penetrated by criminal elements, especially extremists and terrorists. With IDs issued to bona fide residents in an area, police can easily identify criminal elements.

Metro Manila has several large Muslim communities including the Maharlika Village in Taguig and the Muslim districts in Quiapo and Tandang Sora in Quezon City.

But the proposal has also drawn its share of critics including Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who said that it is "outrightly silly and insane." Pimentel argued that the move is illegal and unconstitutional because it will be selective and oppressive.

Meanwhile, Bunye welcomed the rescue of a Chinese-Filipino woman and the arrest of her abductors last Saturday.

He commended the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) headed by Angelo Reyes for its efforts in neutralizing kidnapping syndicates in the country.

"Well, maybe we already have the right formula and this formula has been successful against various kidnapping groups," Bunye said.

Bunye also commended the efforts of the civilian elements who cooperated with authorities in apprehending kidnapping syndicates.

Apart from kidnapping, Bunye noted that the government has also been successful in fighting the illegal drugs trade. In the last six months the government conducted raids on big laboratories and arrested big-time drug dealers.