Philippines DOJ warns of criminal liability for fake disability IDs
The Department of Justice cautioned that individuals using fraudulent Persons with Disability IDs could face criminal charges, noting a large gap between issued IDs and official registrations.
At a press briefing, the Department of Justice warned that persons who acquire Persons with Disability (PWD) identification cards through deceptive means could be prosecuted under various statutes. Dennis Chan highlighted that out of roughly 8.5 million users, only about 2.8 million are officially registered, causing significant economic loss for both merchants and the government. He stressed that businesses must not seize IDs they suspect are counterfeit, but they may verify them and file appropriate cases for falsification of public documents, estafa, or graft.
The National Council on Disability Affairs is seeking legal advice from the DOJ and is developing a centralized PWD ID database to ensure reliable verification. A transition period of two to three years is expected to reconcile records and prevent duplication.
Why it matters
Fake disability IDs undermine tax discounts and could cost businesses and the government millions.
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