Fake IDs proliferate in Davao City amid martial law

The printing of fake IDs in Davao City reportedly shot up after strict security measures were imposed on the entire Mindanao following President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of martial law.

In a report by GMA News' Real Sorroche on 24 Oras on Friday, City Police Office chief Director Michael John Dubria said they discovered the scheme while making security checks in the city.

"More than 1,000 individuals have already availed of fake IDs in our printing press in Davao City. We are looking for those fake IDs," Dubria said, noting that dozens were also found without IDs at hand.

On Thursday, over 200 people were picked up by the police in Davao City for not having IDs. Police said they would be put under verification process.

The Davao City's Peace and Order Council discussed on Friday what they could do to hasten the identification process to allow individuals to come in and out of the city faster without compromising the safety of the city.

Mayor Sara Duterte led the discussion on how quickly the city could disburse funds for the opening of three Special Civilian Active Auxiliaries (SCAA) companies to augment Davao City's forces.

"The best that we can do with the existing security personnel that we have, hindi talaga ma-cover lahat sa dami nga ng mga tao. Pero ang ginagawa natin is mina-maximize natin ang deployment ng mga tao natin," said Mayor Duterte, daughter of the president.

Business owners in Davao have also convened to deliberate how they could continue their daily operations despite the strict security measures, which reportedly has already resulted in the cancellation of some public events.

"It's more of a misconception about what martial law is all about," City Tourism head Gene Rose Tecson said.

Duterte proclaimed martial law on the entire island of Mindanao and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus on Tuesday following the atrocities committed by the Maute group in Marawi City. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News