OBLIQUE OBSERVATIONS

By Atty. Gilberto Lauengco, J.D.

ATTY. GILBERTO LAUENGCO, J.D. is a lawyer, educator, political strategist, government consultant, Lego enthusiast, and the director of CAER Think Tank. He is a Former Vice Chairman of MECO, Special Assistant of NFA and City Administrator among others. His broad experience has molded his unique approach to issues analysis which he calls the oblique observation.

A few days ago, police authorities apprehended six manufacturers of fake identification cards for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in separate raids. The police operations were conducted after the authorities received reports of fake PWD IDs being used to exploit businesses and illegally getting the 20 percent discount on products and services.

A few months ago, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) launched a crackdown on the sale and use of fake PWD IDs. The BIR has called the production and use of fake PWD IDs a form of tax evasion that had cost the government billions of pesos in revenues. The Department of Social Welfare and Development joined the government’s campaign against fake PWD IDs by announcing that it will create a unified ID system that can be used by business establishments for real time updating and verification of the said PWD IDs. The Department of Social Welfare and Development has also urged the public to report incidents involving the sale of fake PWD IDs to the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).

All of these government initiatives are because of the proliferation of fake PWD IDs. One unfortunate side effect of these actions is that legitimate PWDs whose disability is not apparent are now subjected to scrutiny whenever they use their IDs.

As a parent of a child with a disability, I am saddened and angered by the fact several people are using fake disabilities to commit a crime. Several contrarians argue that people are now so desperate to save money that they are compelled to use schemes such as using fake PWD IDs. This is hogwash. First, financial difficulty cannot excuse any crime. Second, there have been many instances where well to do individuals were caught using fake PWD IDs. People with real disabilities have no choice. Everyone else has a choice. Posing as an individual with disability to illegally get discounts is not only illegal but also immoral. Personally, I believe that the penalties for producing, using and facilitating the use of such IDs should be made heavier.

Perhaps, it is time for more sectors of our society to join the fight against the production and use of these fake PWD IDs.

This is my oblique observation.