DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday opposed the “discriminatory” plan of police and military officials in Central Luzon to issue mandatory IDs to more than 26,000 Muslims in the region to flush out terrorists.
“Personally, I think that what they are doing is discriminatory. Why only Muslims? Why not require everyone to have an ID?” Lorenzana told the Manila Standard in a text message.
He said he had told the security officials to “reconsider their actions” and warned of negative repercussions should they persist.
“The purpose may be noble but the unintended consequence is very divisive,” Lorenzana said.
On Thursday, some officials said the ID could help Muslim communities identify suspicious individuals so they could be reported to the authorities.
They said the practice of issuing IDs was a way of distinguishing long-time residents from new arrivals who could be terrorists.
“This must also be the practice in the region not only to protect the civilian populace but also vital government installations against terrorism,” Police Regional Office 3 Director Aaron Aquino said.
While the recent actions of security forces was “something that has to be discussed,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the current drive against jihadists would be an opportunity to back the proposals for a national ID system.
“IDs will eventually be really necessary for the entire nation,” Abella said.