AFP agrees Muslim-only ID 'discriminatory'

The military on Monday said it agrees with the observation that the Muslim-only ID system in place in a town in Tarlac province — as bared by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) last week — is indeed discriminatory.

During Mindanao Hour in Malacañang, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said authorities should not look at an individual’s sector when asking for proof of identification.

“Nagpaabot po kami ng aming komento dito na discriminatory ‘pag ikaw ay pumipili na ang hihingan mo lamang ng ID ay isang sector lamang ng lipunan,” he said.

“Kaya’t ang aming iminungkahi, when we start checking identification of individuals, it should not be aimed at certain sectors of our society but it must be applicable to everyone,” Padilla added.

The comment was made after HRW said that the local government in Paniqui, Tarlac reported that an ID system for Muslims had been implemented to help the authorities identify terrorists in Central Luzon.

This was revealed amid the implementation of martial law in Mindanao after pro-ISIS Maute group attacked Marawi City.

“Hindi po lahat ng ating kapatid na Muslim ay bahagi nitong rebelyon. Iilan lang po ‘yan. Tulad ng sinabi natin noong nagsimula ang kaguluhan, this was not a fight between religions. Hindi po ito religious war,” Padilla said.

“Kung hindi po ito’y isang bakbakan laban po sa masasamang pwersa na nagdala ng kaguluhan sa Marawi. Period. ‘Yan lang po. Wala pong involvement ang religious war dito,” he added.

Instead, Padilla proposed the implementation of a national ID system. —KBK, GMA News