Administrative Order No 308, otherwise known as Adoption of a National Computerized

Identification Reference System, which required the opening of information of citizens to

the government, was issued by President Fidel Ramos. Senator Blas Ople seeks to invalidate
the said order for violating the right to privacy.
Does Administrative Order No. 308 violate the citizens right to privacy?
YES. AO No. 308 cannot pass constitutional muster because facially it violates the right to
privacy. The essence of privacy is the right to be let alone. The right to privacy is a
fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution; hence, it is the burden of government to
show that AO No. 308 is justified by some compelling state interest and that it is narrowly
drawn. In other words, AO No. 308 does not assure the individual of a reasonable
expectation of privacy. The right to privacy merely requires that the law be narrowly focused
and a compelling interest justifies such intrusions. Any law or order that invades individual
privacy will be subjected by the Court to strict scrutiny.