Bangkok: The Department of Provincial Administration has addressed concerns regarding the national identification number of Luang Por Alongkot, which was reported to be identical to that of a deceased individual. The issue arose when the deceased’s ID number, which corresponds to the account of the Athon Prachanath Fund, was activated for PromptPay by a commercial bank.

According to Thai News Agency, the confusion stemmed from a report about Luang Por Alongkot from Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu, originally named Mr. Alongkot Phoomuk, sharing the same name as a deceased individual from Phak Hai District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Although their names and birth dates are similar, with only the birth years differing, the Department clarified through a Facebook post that the ID numbers are distinct. Luang Por Alongkot’s ID number is x-xxxx-xxx036-50-7, while the deceased’s is x-xxxx-xxx796-46-3. The Department also noted a difference in the surnames: Phoomuk with a vowel “u” and Phommuk without it.

The Department emphasized that these are two separate individuals and the reports of ID number duplication are inaccurate. Further examination of the population registration database confirmed that Luang Por Alongkot, originally named Kriangkrai Petchkaew, changed his name to Alongkot Phoomuk in 2009. All ID card transactions and photographs have been verified without altering the ID number.

Additionally, the Department stated that the monk certificate does not serve as an official identity document. For the deceased Mr. Alongkot Phoomuk, ID transactions showed photographs of the individual, with no images of anyone else.

The matter of PromptPay activation using the deceased’s ID number will undergo further investigation by the appropriate agencies. For more information, individuals can contact the Registration and Identification Card Corruption Prevention and Suppression Division at the Department of Provincial Administration via telephone at 0 2791 7983.