How Hard it is to be ROBERT REYES?

I may not be a celebrity, but did you ever thought of how hard it can be if your name is ROBERT REYES? Yeah, I know that my first name ROBERT is a common one, so as my middle name which is DELA CRUZ, and so as with my last name REYES.

During my elementary school days, I simply use ROBERT C. REYES in all of my documents and school records. During my 2nd year in high school, then came this frosh who’s name is Robert C. Reyes (I forgot the meaning of his middle initial, but it was not Dela Cruz). Imagine the hardship every time that there will be a Student’s General Assembly (gala Friday) in school and the Principal will call on Robert Reyes – we’ll just have to look at each other first, trying to figure out who’s being called on stage. So I decided to change my middle initial to dC (as in dela Cruz).

Same thing happened to me in college, where there was at least one Robert Reyes and Robert Dela Cruz in the campus.

The matter became more serious when I started to work. In my job (aviation industry), I am required to renew my NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) Clearance annually. From 1998 until 2008, there will be a “hit” every single time that I will attempt to renew my NBI Clearance. Imagine the hassle of not getting your NBI Clearance on your first visit to their office (as you will be compelled to return after 3 days to have your name “cleared”). Root cause of this problem: the NBI Clearance database is NOT updated. You will find someone (your namesake) to have a derogatory record, but checking on their birthdays, the NBI will attest that it is not you! The same cycle goes on and on for a decade.

Then came the time when I have to travel – for leisure or work-related – especially since 2008.

In December of 2007, the Department of Justice under then Secretary Raul Gonzalez issued a Hold Departure Order (HDO) against those who are criticizing the regime of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to include Fr. Robert Reyes who was charged with sedition and inciting to sedition cases.

Every time I will travel out of the country since then, I will have to secure a NOT THE SAME PERSON certificate from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) at Intramuros, Manila. Securing such certification from the BID is no joke as you are required to submit the following:

• Valid NBI Clearance (PHP115.00 AFAIK)
• Recent ID Picture
• Certification from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that you’re NOT the same person charged in a particular case

It may seem that the requirements above are easy to secure, but think again:

• How many hours will it take for one to secure an NBI Clearance nowadays?
• For one to secure a DOJ Certification (at DOJ Padre Faura), you will need to submit: (1) a duly notarized Affidavit of Denial (email me if you want to receive a copy to be used as a template); (2) written letter of request addressed to the DOJ Secretary; and (3) lots and lots of patience is needed for you to secure this certification.
• Oh, did I mentioned that the DOJ Certification will cost you PHP500?

Once the above requirements are at hand, you will need to go back to the Bureau of Immigration & Deportation in Intramuros, Manila to secure a Certificate of Not The Same Person. In fairness to the BID, the entire process of applying for a Not The Same Person certificate will only eat up around 30 minutes of your day, depending on the number of people applying such document when you are there. In my latest experience, I arrived at the BID around 1430H. By 1500H, I was given my claim stub for the certificate. The bad news: the claim stub indicated that the release of the certification will be at 1700H of that day – hours before my scheduled early morning flight. The certification will cost you another PHP500.

Now, what does the Not The Same Person certificate do? Well, it’s just a piece of paper that you will have to show the Immigrations Officer at the airport (of exit) to avoid the delay and hassle of being held up as your name appears in the Hold Departure Order (HDO) list.