Gloria's Executive Order on National ID system is a step
towards martial law

Migrant workers and their families under the aegis of the MIGRANTE Sectoral Party join the growing opposition to the Macapagal-Arroyo government's frenzied drive for a national ID system via Executive Order 420.

The National Identification System being pushed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Angelo Reyes, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita is an initial step towards open martial law.

We call on Malacañang to immediately rescind Executive Order 420 as this will never translate into better government services and actions to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. We will never accede to a system that will initially result in the invasion of anyone's privacy, progress into the wiretapping of personal communications facilities, surveillance, illegal arrests and other violations of human rights.

Along with other 'anti-terror' bills in Congress, Pres. Arroyo's E. O. 420 aims to railroad an ID system that aims to get each person's vital information for the benefit of terrorists in government. When we say terrorists (read: militarists) in government, we mean those who have short tempers and those do not want critics of their anti-people policies.

We reiterate that a National ID system will not address the issue of violence in the country, nor will it guarantee more and better social services from government offices for the common people. The terrorists in government secretly shepherded EO 420 to avoid intense public criticism it is now receiving.

While Palace officials have said that "all data stored in the system would be considered as confidential and only the person with the ID or his duly authorized representative would be allowed to access information," who will be guarding those with access to the ID system's database against any abuse? Who will stand to benefit from the gathering of all the personal and private information of all persons?

We must firmly oppose Executive Order 420. We should not allow this administration to bring us into the worst days of martial rule. #