MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is sounding the alarm over the proliferation of fake Person with Disability (PWD) identification cards, citing a staggering gap between the number of registered persons with disabilities and those reportedly using PWD IDs.
Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan on Thursday said the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) reported around 2.8 million registered PWDs, compared with approximately 8.5 million people using PWD IDs.
That leaves a discrepancy of roughly 6 million IDs, raising concerns over widespread abuse of the privileges granted to PWDs.
Chan said the DOJ has drafted an opinion clarifying that business establishments cannot require prior verification of a PWD ID before granting the benefits attached to it.
Under the law, businesses must extend the benefit upon presentation of the ID. However, they may subsequently verify whether the ID is authentic.
If an ID is found to be fake, the person who used it may face criminal charges, including falsification of a public document and potentially estafa through falsification, the DOJ said.
The government officials involved in improperly issuing PWD IDs may also face sanctions, including possible liability under Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Chan said businesses that suspect a fake ID may coordinate with the local government unit that issued it and check whether the legal requirements for securing the ID were actually met.
This could include verifying the medical certification supporting the disability claim. If a medical certificate itself turns out to be falsified, the doctor who issued it could also face criminal liability.
The DOJ said the crackdown was not aimed only at fake-ID users but also at those who enable the system—from local officials and social welfare offices to medical professionals who knowingly facilitate fraudulent applications.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida also issued a blunt appeal for honesty, warning that fraudulent use of PWD privileges ultimately shifts the cost to businesses, government and the public.
He noted that when people who are not entitled to the benefit use fake PWD IDs, the resulting discounts and tax implications affect businesses and government revenues.
Vida also warned against treating PWD privileges as something that can simply be exploited for cheaper meals or purchases.
“No such thing as free lunch,” the Justice secretary said, stressing that dishonest use of government-granted privileges imposes a burden on others.
The NCDA, meanwhile, is rolling out a more verifiable PWD identification system designed to make authentication easier and curb fraud.