Locsin says DFA can’t assure ‘safety’ of ‘some’ passport data

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday said the agency cannot assure the “safety and security” of “some data” in Filipinos’ passports.

This as Locsin also said they are “taking the word of APO Production Unit that there is no breach in passport data” and that “only a Senate investigation will assure the public that there was no breach or loss of data.”

“Until then, the Department can give no assurances on the safety and security of some data,” Locsin said in a statement sent to reporters.

APO Production Unit Inc. was the printing company responsible for producing Philippine electronic passports.

On Saturday, Locsin said a previous contractor “made off” with applicants’ passport data after its contract was terminated by DFA.

“Because previous contractor got pissed when terminated it made off with data. We did nothing about it or couldn’t because we were in the wrong,” Locsin said in a Twitter post.

But on Tuesday, the DFA chief admitted on Twitter that passport information was not “run-away-able” and merely “made inaccessible” by the agency since it already ended its contract with a former passport maker.

READ: Locsin clarifies: Passport data not ‘run-away-able’ but inaccessible

/kga

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