DoJ warns vs fraudulent use of PWD discount cards

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida warned Thursday against the fraudulent use of persons with disability (PWDs) identification cards, cautioning that non-entitled individuals, corrupt local officials, and physicians issuing falsified medical certificates face criminal prosecution.

Speaking at a Department of Justice (DoJ) news conference, Vida urged Filipinos using fake or unauthorized PWD cards to surrender them, stressing that fraudulent discount claims deprive businesses of revenue and reduce municipal and national tax collections.

“Let’s start living honestly,” Vida said, citing that illegal discounts systematically drain tax revenues.

Citing an illustrative P1,200 restaurant bill, he explained that an improper discount reduces collected sales taxes by approximately P50, subject to formal validation by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Vida warned that municipal social welfare officers who knowingly issue PWD cards to unqualified applicants will face prosecution under Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Physicians issuing fraudulent medical evaluations and individuals using falsified documents to claim statutory discounts will face criminal charges.

To eliminate abuse, the National Council on Disability Affairs is launching a centralized, verifiable PWD identification system equipped with enhanced security features for rapid authentication by commercial establishments.

Vida also directed local government units to strip political branding from the identity cards, mandating that newly issued cards omit signatures and images of elected officials.

Under the updated framework, cards issued for permanent disabilities will remain valid for life, while credentials for non-apparent disabilities will carry a five-year renewal period.