Palace backs cancellation of alleged drug queen’s passport

Guia Gomez Castro

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo has backed the call of an opposition senator urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel the passport of alleged “drug queen” Guia Gomez Castro.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, Panelo said that Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon’s proposal was a “good idea.”

Asked if the Palace will recommend Drilon’s proposal to the DFA, Panelo replied: “It’s for the DFA to decide.”

Castro, a former chair of Barangay 484 Zone 48 in Sampaloc, Manila, was earlier tagged by the police as a drug queen who reportedly enjoyed the protection of “ninja cops” or lawmen who recycled drugs seized in operations.

The Bureau of Immigration had confirmed that she left the country on Sept. 21 for Bangkok.

Drilon pointed out that under Republic Act No. 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act, the DFA secretary was authorized to cancel a passport in the interest of national security or if the owner was a fugitive from justice.