Refusal to accept PhilSys ID fines P500K

Refusal to accept PhilSys ID fines P500K  

DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA) - - Any private or government establishment which refuses to recognize the Philippine National ID (Identification) card can be penalized of P500,000 per Section 19 of the Philsys Act or the Republic Act 11055.

Guesting in the Sayron Ta, Pakigsayod radio program, Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA) Davao del Norte Chief Statistician Pepito Amoyen emphasized this in the midst of some complaints regarding the non-acceptance of Philsys as a valid ID.

The Section 19 of Republic Act 11055 provides the Penal Provision of the law specifically saying, “Any person or entity who, without just and sufficient cause, shall refuse to accept, acknowledge and/or recognize the Phil ID or PSN, subject to authentication, as the only official identification of the holder/possessor thereof shall be fined in the amount of Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00)”.

“The law applies to everyone; that is a Republic Act; nobody is exempted and nobody is above the law,” Amoyen said.

Amoyen admitted having received a number of complaints on refusal to recognize the Phil ID, and he revealed of having sent a number of letters to concerned agencies and establishments demanding their explanation.

 “Ug aduno mo reklamo bahin niini, pwede mo magdala sa amoa (PSA) ug sulat nga wala gidawat sa usa ka ahensya o sa bangko ba ang inyong National ID (if you have any complaint regarding this, you can send us a letter telling us that your Natioal ID was not accepted by an agency or by a bank), then we will write the agencies concerned asking them why  have you not accepted the National ID?  It is a violation,” he said.

 Amoyen is determined to enforce the PhilSys Act “because just imagine the government has spent billions of pesos for the national ID and just be refused?” he said.

“Mao na nga gibutang jud sa balaod ang penalty (that’s why the penalty is really stated in the law) and for those who want to file their cases, pwede mo moadto sa atoang PAO (you can seek the assistance of PAO), and PAO will entertain in reference to the violation of Section 19 of the Philsys Act,” he said.

 Amoyen said establishments that turned down the PhilSys ID noted it to have no signature deemed as important in verifying document such as cheques.

Amoyen explained that the National ID has no signature because the personal biometrics and iris scan are sufficient to identify a person, and these are more reliable than a signature which, according to him, can be forged.

 To verify the ID holder, concerned agency or establishment can download the PSA “PhilSys Check” verifier to scan the QR code of the card holder and check her or his identity.

“We have posted on our (FB) page how to verify thru the scanner. Downloadable man ang verified Check,” he said.  (Jean Duron-Abangan/PIA Davao del Norte)