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Another Duterte wants an ID system in the barangays

Published: January 30, 2008   |     |     |   Subscribe: RSS or Email    

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By MARILOU M. AGUIRRE | Davao Today

DAVAO CITY — Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Paolo Duterte, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s eldest son, wants an identification (ID) system in place in each of the city barangays (villages).

Davao has a total of 182 barangays under three congressional districts.

A first-timer in local politics, the younger Duterte won the post of Catalunan Grande barangay captain in an October barangay election last year. Two months later, he was voted the new ABC president, succeeding Amilbangsa Manding, which entitled him a seat in the City Council as an ex-officio member, completing the Duterte’s political triumvirate: mayor, vice mayor and councilor.

The younger Duterte wants to duplicate the move of ABC vice-president Leo Aquino, who implemented the ID system in the village of Wilfedo Aquino in the city’s second district, during his term.

Like his younger sister, vice mayor Sara Duterte, Paolo obviously favors the ID system amidst the stirring opposition nationwide.

“It is really up to the (barangay) captains. If their constituents do not want to get an ID card, we can’t do anything about that. We can’t force them,” the younger Duterte said.

But in Sulu, Rep. Munir Arbison said the ID system was implemented without consultation with the municipal mayors, barangay leaders, and the province’s constituents.

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan initially launched the ID system in the town of Patikul, where the bandit group Abu Sayyaf is allegedly based.

The ID includes the holder’s photo, thumbprint and personal information like sex, age, address, civil status, blood type and, date and place of birth.

In a statement earlier posted on the Makati City Hall website, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, a known opposition figure, said the Arroyo administration is silently implementing the national ID system at the barangay level through the barangay ID system earlier proposed by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno in September last year.

Known as the Registry of Barangay Inhabitants System (RBIS), the system is supposed to cover all barangays nationwide, and requires residents 15 years old and above who have been residing in their barangays for at least six months to register at their respective barangay halls. Residents will be issued identification cards through the barangays.

Binay said the proposed barangay registry will start September 2008. The registration of all residents—which will entail the establishment of barangay enrollment centers, enrollment of all residents, and the issuance of ID cards—will last until October 2009.

The Supreme Court has ruled in 1998 that the national ID system is unconstitutional. The ID system could only be implemented if there is an enabling law ratified by the Congress. (Marilou M. Aguirre/davaotoday)