Police to help PSA personnel follow health protocols as first step in national ID registration starts

October 12, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday reminded police personnel who will be deployed to assist the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to follow health protocols.

In a press conference Monday, PNP chief General Camilo Cascolan said he directed  regional police directors in the 32 provinces to assist in PSA personnel in Step 1 of the National ID System registration which started Monday.

“They should always be visible. Number two, they should always assist. Number three, they should always follow anti-COVID protocols and of course maintain peace and order,” Cascolan said.

Cascolan said it will be up to regional police directors how many personnel they will provide in the registration.

“It will depend of course on the deployment of regional directors, depending on the (polling) tradition of the place and at the same time the gravity of the peace and order,” he said.

“If it is peaceful ( the deployment of police will) not (be) so much but we will always be there,” he added.

Cascolan assured the public there is nothing to be afraid of with the presence of police as long as they are following rules and regulations.

“If you are a good citizen ,you have nothing to be afraid of. If you are doing anything that is right, you are following rules and regulations. For the PNP, if you are not violating any rule of law or any violation of human rights it will be good for you, it will be good for everybody. Just remember that,” he said.

According to the PSA, data-gathering is the first of a three-part process. The next two steps are presence of people to designated centers for the biometrics and the last process will be the issuing the national ID.

The first wave of registration, which began Monday, will be held in Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, Isabela, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Bulacan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Albay, Masbate, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Compostela Valley and Tawi-Tawi.

The PSA hired about 5,000 people to interview and collect data from target households in 32 provinces.

JTF COVID Shield on Sunday said they would also coordinate with local government units to facilitate  the national ID system. Ella Dionisio/DMS