30 November 2005 - The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy is taking immediate measures to ensure that the page in the Philippine passport with the limitation “Not Valid for Travel to Iraq” is always shown when inspected by immigration authorities.

Chargé d’Affaires, a. i. (CDA) Ariz Severino V. Convalecer informed the Department that the Embassy has made representations with Immigration Authorities in Kuwait to reiterate the travel ban and warned the Kuwaiti public that it will take the appropriate action against those  tampering with the Philippine passport.

CDA Convalecer said the Embassy took these measures after some individuals were found  attempting to circumvent the ban of deployment of OFWs to Iraq by pasting pages 2 (“Limitations”) and 3 (“Amendments”) of passports to hide the “Not Valid for Travel to Iraq” stamp imprinted upon them, constituting tampering of the passport and thus rendering the passport invalid.

CDA Convalecer reported that the Embassy has already made an announcement about the passport-tampering and warning to the Kuwaiti press.

In view of the current ban on the deployment of OFWs to Iraq, the Department has ordered that the limitation “Not Valid for Travel to Iraq”  be stamped on all passports issued.

The Department warns the public that since the Philippine passport is considered the property of the Philippine Government, its tampering or mutilation is punishable under Philippine law, and the Department and all Philippine Foreign Service Posts are intent on prosecuting violators to protect the integrity of the Philippine passport.  END