The Citizen On Mars :: Warn The Town, The Beast Is Loose :: April

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The Citizen On Mars is by P.B. Masdal. Blogging on Philippine Politics, Global Issues, Finance, Economics, Environmental Concerns, Social Matters, Web Designs and Personal Lives. Writing from Zamboanga City, Philippines.

April 20, 2006

Warn The Town, The Beast Is Loose

By P.B. Masdal |

Posted In : Philippine Politics

Or rather, Big Brother is coming to town.

In “1984”, George Orwell predicts a world where “an eye in the sky” sees everything a man does—-just like in the reality show we all are aware of by now. In “Atlas Shrug”, the superlative thinker Ayn Rand thought that in an ideal world, every man is known by a number designated to him or her from day one. And in the Philippines, aside from apprising suspects of their rights to remain silent, policemen would soon be mumbling cinematic lines like, “Where’s your I.D.?” or “Give Me Your I.D.?” Just like in a Sylvester Stallone cop-and robber movie or an Arnold Swarzenneger futuristic.

Fact and fiction would soon converge here in our country as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the full-steaming of the national I.D. system just hours after the Supreme Court had upheld the constitutionality of Executive Order 420, the Malacañang instructive that calls for such. And finally, we will come to a point in this country where we could be required to hold a public document in our wallet or else, we’d be penalize for being forgetful. Up to this time, we can’t be held for not having our birth certificates in our wallets, or even by not having any at all. The only consequence for this is that we can’t get some privileges like employment and marriage—-matters that requires the presentation of a certificate that records the day that we first breath fresh hospital air. I never really heard ‘bout a guy being handcuffed for not having had that darn certificate when he needed it.

Or we can’t even be cornered by some patrolling law enforcer for not having brought that small yellow card that declares our Tax Information Number (TIN); even though tax evasion is nearly a serious crime. Only time I know where we can be frisked by men in uniform is when we bended some guy’s car fender and we haven’t got any driver’s license to flash in front of the traffic officer.

Secretary Ignacio Bunye is quick to point out that the contemplated national I.D. system would not in anyway intrude into everyone’s privacy, has enough safeguards against abuse and that every successful republic in the world has a strong I.D. system. Well for one, an integrated I.D. system surely brings certain good things, especially to those in the government. Imagine holding just one cool and glossy credit card type card and just about anytime, with the convenience of a personal I.D. number, one can get an instant GSIS loan in exactly one minute, just like Polaroid 2×2 photos. It’s so much more delectable than instant noodles I dare say. And perhaps in just a couple of clicks on the keyboard, it could be verified immediately if we still had creditable amount from PhilHealth—-no more filling up of clumsy and fading government forms and no more long lines in dragging hospital queues.

But on the one hand, that I.D. number could possibly track most facets of a peson’s profile and the Big Brother government can now know where you live in just matter of seconds, your work and occupation, the money you take in as salary, the number of your kids, your car’s plate number, and who knows what else as it evolves later on. Maybe it’ll be able to finally track down the kind of food you eat, your friends and minions, the doctor you visited the other day and the sort of establishments you frequent. Is this a problem you ask? Well, this might not be so at a glance but in totality, it feels chilling and creepy to ever be aware that I am a well-documented person; that while I am sipping coffee in the solace of my home, somebody in front of a computer in some seedy government office might be clicking on my profile, studying if my income range could allow me to buy a washing machine or a plasma television set. What if in election time, they could use my data as survey material and analyze the kind of voter I am without my permission? Am I leaning conservative or am I pro-change? Somebody is browsing me all the time. And just like in that famous pop song, “I always feel like, somebody’s watching me”. Have you felt that way? To be watched all the time? I have felt that way before and I tell you, it ain’t a nice feeling. It’s disturbing and makes you feel panicky all the time. And it could drive you insane. The national I.D. system could possibly drive us all insane.

I had an uncle who once had worked in Malaysia and as a registered alien there, he had to carry this I.D. they call “C.I.”, meaning citizen I.D.. He had intimated to me once that back when he was in Sabah working as waiter in a plush hotel, the police seem to be always on his back almost all the time, that wherever he goes—-to restaurants, moviehouses, or to a nearby village—-the police could just randomly approach him and ask, “Where’s your C.I.?”. I asked him what happens if he fails to present that darn paper. My uncle said that sometimes, they hail you to prison and shaved your head until you look like a very bad imitation of Sinead O’ Connor.

Hope it won’t happen here.

41 Comments »

snglguy says; April 21, 2006 @ 12:52 am

It’s still too early to tell if this national ID system will be effective. And like you said, one good thing about this is that one day, we may have to only carry one ID card for various government agencies such as SSS, Philhealth, and maybe even our driver’s license.

The scary thing is, if the government decides to include other informations such as bank accounts, police records etc. in the card. Imagine, everything about you and your life coming up on the screen with just one swipe….
rudyman says; April 21, 2006 @ 1:13 am

o nga noh. possible that this is only one, out of the many unlikely tactics of the government to predispose people for a much larger and horrendous scheme. naku po.
Sam says; April 21, 2006 @ 3:56 am

A national ID will not give us comfort and joy as what government wants us to believe. It will not solve the problem of corruption and bureaucratic red tape in government agencies (i.e., GSIS, SSS, BIR, Philhealth, etc…). If anything, a national ID is an instrument which will definitely be used in controlling the citizen’s mobility and using personal/private information of citizens for political ends and manipulation. Yes, these are indeed part of an Orwellian “big brother” measures being imposed upon us citizens.
Sam says; April 21, 2006 @ 4:00 am

oops sorry for the double entry. kindly delete the extra post, major tom por pabor. muchas gracias.
Major Tom says; April 21, 2006 @ 3:29 pm

To snglguy: The bank account number may be a far-off scheme since it is indubitably a very privilege information. But recent enactments like the Terrorism Bill or similar recent laws, could allow law enforcers to peek into some person’s banking activities even without court permission and this is very serious matter since we’ve seen how the hands of the law sometimes become abusive.

To rudyman: It is possible that this may just be another ploy to rein in the people’s desire for radical change. This way kasi, madali na tayong takutin. I know where you live and I know what you eat kinda thing.

To Sam: That’s what I was stressing Sam. Malacañang says that it can help track down criminal more effectively. Well, I think this is just an excuse since there is really no alternative to good police work.
bing says; April 22, 2006 @ 7:49 am

i agree very much to what Sam wrote. in addition, it can be used to restrain people from expressing their opinions and views publicly, or denounce what these ugly politicians are doing.
Major Tom says; April 23, 2006 @ 4:48 pm

Hi Bing,...This I.D. system, like any other system, can easily be abused and in this country, that most likely to happen. I hope the government should go easy on this and we all should be cautious and vigilant as it is being applied to us. Like you said, it can be a tool for political manipulation and blackmail.
bw says; April 23, 2006 @ 10:45 pm

How much will it cost to make an ID for every legit citizen? A buck per person? I bet not. 70M ( for 70 mill Pinoys) is way too cheap. 10 bucks? still cheap and will cost 700 million. Who is going to spend for it? The govt? The people? Well, those who need it will be compelled to pay 50 or even a 100 bucks – what about those who dont see the need for it like the old folks and those who freeload on the relatives for life and dont intend to work nor file any income for the rest oftheir lives? What’s the criteria for having a national ID - we dont share any borders with any country? If the govt makes the ID - who gets the printing contract? hmmm… lots of money to be had. Most of all we know that people can pay to get a fake id and ply his sinister trade, whatever that might be – so what’s the use of this ID? LOL!
snglguy says; April 24, 2006 @ 11:43 am

Uh oh, someone’s gonna earn millions on this ID deal…
Major Tom says; April 24, 2006 @ 4:23 pm

To BW & Singl: In times of adversity, the unscrupulous makes the dough. This is one aspect that makes me realize why the gov’t is railroading this project—big bucks is for the taking.

What I heard is that the cost for this scheme will be funded by a loan from the Spanish government. It’s kinda laughable isn’t it? The government plans something ludicrous but some foreign state churns out the money.
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