Cayetano voices concerns over reliability of Philippine IDs, calls for stronger measures against scams
August 5, 2024
Cayetano voices concerns over reliability of Philippine IDs, calls for stronger measures against scams
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday expressed grave concerns about the reliability of Philippine identification documents amid reports of widespread counterfeiting.
Speaking during the Blue Ribbon Committee's investigation on August 5, 2024 into the unauthorized proliferation and use of government documents by foreign nationals, Cayetano emphasized the urgent need for a specialized unit to tackle the growing problem of scams in the country.
"Who is getting better, tayo na gumagawa ng original identifications, or y'ung mga namemeke?" he said.
The investigation was attended by representatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), among other key agencies.
Cayetano noted that the "worldwide trend" of scamming is on the rise, highlighting two primary motivations: personal gain or to defraud others. He stressed the importance of convicting those involved in forgery, referencing the 2016 case where 177 Indonesians obtained fake Philippine passports.
"Ang tanong ko, nakulong ba ang mga namemeke noon? Kasi kung hindi, eh kaya marami pa rin ang namemeke ng mga documents ngayon," he said.
Cayetano warned that these incidents undermine the credibility of government-issued documents, stating that the international community "will not trust the Philippine passport" if such issues persist.
He advocated for the creation of a special unit similar to Singapore's Anti-Scam Centre and Hong Kong's Anti-Deception Coordination Centre, both of which involve collaboration between police, banks, and telecommunications companies to effectively combat scams in the country.
"This hearing was scheduled to find solutions... Ginagawa na sa Singapore at Hong Kong, pero bakit tayo hindi pa ginagawa?" he said.
"We have to get ahead of the scammers. We have to think the way they think and stay one step ahead of them," he added.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of scam cases in the country, Cayetano announced his intention to file a resolution linking these incidents to other fraudulent activities, such as SIM card registration scams.
He called on the PNP, NBI, PSA, and DFA to intensify their efforts in prosecuting violators and committed to supporting these agencies with the necessary resources to combat scams and the unauthorized use of government documents.
"I want to help you to find solutions. We have to equip you, but you need to tell us kung ano ang kailangan," he said.
"Kailangan may makasuhan at ma-convict," he added.
Cayetano, nag-aalala sa reliability ng Philippine IDs
Nagpahayag si Senador Alan Peter Cayetano ng matinding pagkabahala tungkol sa 'reliability' ng mga Philippine identification and documents sa gitna ng mga ulat ng malawakang pamemeke sa mga ito.
Sa ginanap na pagsisiyasat ng Blue Ribbon Committee nitong August 5, 2024 sa hindi awtorisadong paglaganap at paggamit ng mga dokumento ng gobyerno ng mga dayuhan, binigyang-diin ni Cayetano ang pangangailangan para sa isang special unit upang matugunan ang lumalaking problema ng mga scam sa bansa.
"Who is getting better, tayo na gumagawa ng original identifications, or y'ung mga namemeke?" wika niya.
Ang imbestigasyon ay dinaluhan ng mga kinatawan mula sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), at iba pang mga pangunahing ahensya.
Sinabi ni Cayetano na may dalawang pangunahing motibasyon ang "worldwide trend" ng pagtaas ng scamming: para sa pansariling pakinabang o panloloko sa iba.
Binigyang-diin niya ang kahalagahan ng pag-usig sa mga sangkot sa pamemeke, at tinukoy ang kaso noong 2016 kung saan nakakuha ng pekeng Philippine passport ang 177 Indonesian.
"Ang tanong ko, nakulong ba ang mga namemeke noon? Kasi kung hindi, eh kaya marami pa rin ang namemeke ng mga documents ngayon," wika niya.
Nagbabala si Cayetano na ang mga insidenteng ito ay sumisira sa kredibilidad ng government-issued documents, at sinabing mawawala ang tiwala ng international community sa Philippine passports kung magpapatuloy ang mga naturang isyu.
Aniya, makakatulong sa epektibong paglaban sa mga scam ang paglikha ng isang special unit sa bansa na katulad ng Anti-Scam Centre ng Singapore at Anti-Deception Coordination Centre ng Hong Kong, kung saan nagsasanib-pwersa ang kapulisan, mga bangko, at mga telecommunications companies.
"This hearing was scheduled to find solutions... Ginagawa na sa Singapore at Hong Kong, pero bakit tayo hindi pa ginagawa?" wika niya.
"We have to get ahead of the scammers. We have to think the way they think and stay one step ahead of them," dagdag niya.
Upang magkaroon ng komprehensibong pag-unawa sa mga kaso ng scam sa bansa, inihayag ni Cayetano ang kanyang intensyon na maghain ng resolusyon na nag-uugnay sa mga insidenteng ito sa iba pang fraudulent activities, tulad ng SIM card registration scams.
Nanawagan siya sa PNP, NBI, PSA, at DFA na paigtingin ang kanilang pagsisikap sa pag-usig sa mga lumalabag at nagpahayag ng suporta para sa kanilang mga tungkulin ng wakasan ang mga isyung ito.
"I want to help you to find solutions. We have to equip you, but you need to tell us kung ano ang kailangan," wika niya.
"Kailangan may makasuhan at ma-convict," dagdag niya.
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