DFA to study request for cancellation of Enrile, Estrada, Revilla passports
DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has yet to assess the request from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the cancellation of the passports of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.
The DOJ sent a 10-page request letter to the DFA Thursday asking that the three senators’ passports be cancelled and also that of Enrile’s former chief-of-staff Atty. Jessica Reyes.
The DFA however said it has not yet officially received the request but said that it will first assess the request before acting on it.
“We have not received any request from the DoJ yet regarding this issue. But once we receive one, then we will assess the request, and we will proceed from there,” DFA spokesman assistant secretary Raul Hernandez told reporters in an ambush interview Thursday at the sidelines of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) membership general assembly.
According Article 9 Section 2 of the DFA Department Order 11-97 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Republic Act 8239, “Philippines Passport Act,” a passport may be cancelled for three reasons:
a) Upon conviction by the holder of a criminal offense. The passport may be restored after service of sentence.
b) Upon a finding by the Secretary or his duly 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 of the court to hold the departure of an applicant because of a pending criminal case.
Section 4 of RA 8239 also states that: “In the interest of national security, public safety and public health, the Secretary or any of the authorized consular officers may, after due hearing and in their proper discretion, refuse to issue a passport, or restrict its use or withdraw or cancel a passport.”
“Provided, however, That such act shall not mean a loss or doubt on the person’s citizenship: Provided, further, That the issuance of a passport may not be denied if the safety and interest of the Filipino citizen is at stake: Provided, finally, That refusal or cancellation of a passport would not prevent the issuance of a Travel Document to allow for a safe return journey by a Filipino to the Philippines,” it said.
Enrile, Estrada, Revilla, Reyes have been charged with plunder before the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the billion peso pork barrel scam masterminded by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
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