TARLAC CITY — Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) provided personnel and transportation assistance in the delivery of about 1,523 National Identification System (PhilSys) registration kits to 11 provincial offices of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
This is Phase 1 of PhilSys implementation, which is to deliver the registration kits to 32 provincial offices all-over the country through the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In a statement, AFP Chief General Gilbert Gapay emphasized the importance of PhilSys in the fight against insurgency.
“The National ID System will help us and other law enforcement agencies to curb criminality and terrorism as we can now validate and expose criminals’ identities and prevent them from hiding in other law-abiding citizens’ identity,” he underscored.
“This will also constrain and lose their freedom of movement, and they will be isolated and unable to transact business as no official identification can be presented when demanded,” Gapay added.
In line with this, NOLCOM Commander Major General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. ordered group commanders to provide the essential assistance for the delivery of kits.
“Provide all manpower and logistical assistance to ensure the safe and unhindered passage and delivery of the registration kits so that the system’s implementation will be able to proceed in accordance to the national government’s timeline,” Maj Gen Burgos commanded.
Within the area of responsibility of NOLCOM, 11 provinces namely Bulacan, Isabela, Zambales, Cagayan, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Bataan have received their kits.
Burgos likewise acknowledged the indispensable role of PhilSys in capturing members of the terrorist groups.
“We are confident that the Communist Terrorist Group’s manipulative ploys will be contained and their terroristic intentions averted once the national ID system gains traction, thus, forcing them down the road of irrecoverable and irreversible defeat,” he said.
Moreover, he emphasized that the implementation of this system is a leap towards achieving peace among the region.
“The crushing of insurgency in this part of the country will usher in the private and public sectors’ shared aspirations of peace, prosperity and development for the Filipino nation, particularly for the people of Northern and Central Luzon,” he stressed.