4 March 2004 - Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael E. Seguis today said that vigilance in the processing of passports has once again broken the attempt of an illegal recruiter to victimize Filipinos hoping to seek employment overseas.

“I would like to commend the personnel of the Diplomatic and Official Passport Section of the Office of Consular Affairs for their vigilance and professionalism that prevented a number of our countrymen from becoming victims of illicit human trafficking.  I would like to cite in particular Ms. Maria Genetrix P. Nanes, the head of the Diplomatic and Official Passport Section and her staff who discovered the attempt of a group of travelers to obtain official passports,” Secretary Seguis said.

Yesterday, a group claiming to be local government officials of Sagada, Mountain Province attempted to obtain official passports.  The group was led by a certain Francisco Bang-I Balisong, who claimed to be a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Sagada, Mountain Province. Upon closer examination of the applications, it became clear that the applicants were trying to assume the identities of actual local government officials.  The Department immediately notified the National Bureau of Investigation, which subsequently brought the applicants to the NBI for questioning.

“I would also like warn the public against illegal recruiters.  We ask the public not to accept offers of illegal recruiters or passport fixers for official passports.  We always check with the mother agencies of all applicants for official or diplomatic passports,” Acting Secretary Seguis said.  He added that the Department will also continue to work with other agencies in the apprehension and prosecution of
those who violate the Philippine Passport Law.

“The Office of Consular Affairs will continue to exert every effort to ensure the sanctity of the Philippine passport.  While efforts at preventing passport fraud will continue, efforts will also continue in ensuring that the application of legitimate passport applicants are processed in a timely manner,” Acting Secretary Seguis said. END.