3 senators asked to comment on DOJ request for cancellation of their passports

Senators (from left) Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday gave three senators and their 34 co-respondents in a plunder complaint against them in connection with the pork barrel scam five days to comment on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s request for the cancellation of their passports pending a preliminary investigation of the case against them.

The department announced this as Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario himself prepared to deliberate with his legal team on the passport cancellation request, which involves the largest number of passports the foreign office has ever been asked to cancel in one request.

Confirming receipt of the DOJ’s  request, aspokesperson told a news conference Saturday afternoon that the DFA was sending notices to those on the DOJ list, including Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, asking them to comment on the justice department’s request to void their passports.

“We will start sending out notices today to concerned individuals asking them to submit written comments on the request of the Department of Justice,” DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said.

“From receipt of notices, they have five days to reply, including non-working days. We will then evaluate the merits of the DOJ (request) and the comments of the passport holders before we come up with a decision. The public will be informed of developments in due course,” he added.

Respondents who received their notices on Saturday are expected to submit their responses by Oct. 30, Hernandez said.

He said Del Rosario and the DFA’s legal team would decide on the request and they would “treat this as one case or one issue,” issuing a single decision even if some would fail to air their side.

“If concerned parties fail to submit comments, then the decision will have to be based on the merits of the request of the DOJ and our interpretation,” Hernandez said. “We will treat this as one case or one issue. The arguments of one party will apply to the others.”

The procedure, Hernandez said, is based on the DFA’s reading of the 1996 Philippine Passport Act, which prescribes conditions under which the state has the power to cancel an individual’s passport.

Under the passport law, the DFA may  cancel passports only of fugitives, convicted criminals and those proven to have fraudulently acquired or tampered with the travel document.

The foreign has discretion to cancel passports if national security, public safety and health are at risk.

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