THE village officials of Zamboanga City have been urged anew to cautiously study the background of people before issuing them identification cards.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar made the call anew in the wake of reports that two apprehended Malaysian nationals, one of whom was found to be a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf group, were issued with identification cards by the Kasanyangan Barangay Council.
“While you have the power to issue IDs, you have to follow the law, verify if they are legitimate residents of your barangay,” Salazar said.
The mayor said she will again write the Department of Interior and Local Government to properly guide barangays in the issuance of IDs to residents.
Salazar said it is essential that barangay officials conduct a thorough check and ensure that applicants for IDs are indeed residents of their communities.
This, she said, will help deter lawlessness.
The local authorities have implemented the “No ID, No Entry” policy in the city a few days after President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under martial law.
The policy is aimed to shut possible entry of lawless elements into this city. (Bong Garcia/VoxPop Philippines)