LOCAL authorities reminded the public in Davao City anew to always carry with them valid identification (ID) documents to avoid further inconveniences during inspection.
"The public should always bring valid ID/identification documents to prevent any inconvenience to oneself," Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Davao commander Lieutenant Restituto Concio Jr. said on Monday, June 19.
His statement came after a suspected Maute member identified as Jason, 24, and a resident of Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) was put on hold earlier that day for failing to present identification card to the inspecting officer at Maewess Ferry Station in Sasa Wharf.
The PCG officers said a resemblance with him to a terrorist group in the rogue gallery so was held by security forces and was subjected for verification of his identity.
But Davao City Police Office Director Alexander Tagum said that as of 4 p.m. Monday, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency issued a negative result of his involvement to the notorious group upon their Facial Recognition Test.
"The allegation of the subject that he is a Visaya from Cebu was also supported by his relatives. As a result, we've turned over said subject person to his relatives after our initial documentations," Tagum said.
The local authorities as well as the city government of Davao urged the public to bring IDs to avoid inconvenience similar to what just happened.
Bringing IDs was included in the guidelines of the city during the implementation of martial law. The measure is intended to identify members of the terrorist group, who have possibly entered the city and avoid potential spillovers of ongoing Marawi City crisis.
Task Force Davao commander Colonel Erwin Bernard Neri said that "it is very important to carry valid IDs at all time for personal identification and verification as authorities will become suspicious if a person has no identification documents to present."