DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                 2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                               Tel. No. 834-4000 

SFA-AGR-494-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       18 July 2005

DFA TO BE GUIDED BY PASSPORT ACT IN CANCELLATION OF PASSPORTS– SECRETARY ROMULO

18 July 2005 – Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo today said that any action of the DFA pertaining to the issuance and cancellation of a Philippine passport has been and will always be governed by Republic Act No. 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.

Earlier, Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., urged the DFA to cancel the passport of former Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, to prevent him from leaving the country

“We understand and appreciate the spirit and intent of Senator Pimentel’s suggestion and will study it in accordance with the law on the matter,” Secretary Romulo said.

The Philippine Passport Act and its  implementing rules and regulations provide for very clear guidelines as to who may be issued a Philippine passport and under what circumstances an issued passport may be cancelled.

Section 8, Paragraph b of R.A. 8239, states that:
“Sec. 8.  Grounds for Denial, Cancellation or Restrictions. – The application for passport may be denied, cancelled or restricted only on the following grounds:

x x x

“b) Cancellation

1. When the holder is a fugitive from justice;
2. When the holder has been convicted of a criminal offense: Provided, That the passport may be restored after service of sentence; or
3. When the passport was acquired fraudulently or tampered with.”

DFA Department Order No. 11-97, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of The Philippine Passport Act, states under Section 2, paragraphs a, b and c, that:
“Sec. 2  A passport may be cancelled for the following reasons:

a) upon conviction by the holder of a criminal offense.  The passport may be restored after service of sentence.
b) upon finding by the Secretary or his authorized representative or consular officer that a passport was secured through fraud or misrepresentation, or that it has been tampered with subsequent to its release or issuance to its holder.
c) upon lawful order of the court to hold the departure of an applicant because of a pending criminal case.”

END
 

/jay