171 kuwestiyonableng Ph passport applicants, naharang ng DFA
Umaabot sa 171 aplikante ng pasaporte ng Pilipinas ang napigilan ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) dahil sa kuwestiyonableng nasyonalidad.
Ito ang ibinunyag ni DFA Assistant Secretary Adelio Cruz sa pagdinig ng Senate Finance Committee sa 2025 proposed budget ng kagawaran na P27.4 billion.
DFA Assistant Secretary Adelio Cruz / Photo: DFA website
Ayon kay Cruz, “Since November last year we were able to prevent the application of questionable nationalities applying for Philippine passport. More than 171 attempts have already been prevented by the Office of Consular Affairs.”
Aniya, may hawak na birth certificate ang mga nasabing aplikante at karamihan sa mga ito ay first time passport applicants na delayed ang birth certificate registration.
Sabi ni Cruz, “There were a number that were genuine, there were a number that were obviously fraudulent and what we do po to ensure this does not happen again is, if it’s a questionable application we immediately get the biometrics of that person flagged it all over our consulate offices to prevent them from forum shopping and attempting to apply to other consulate offices.”
Ayon pa kay Cruz, may binubuo na ang DFA ng kasunduan sa PNP para sa paghuli sa mga aplikante na may mga peke o kuwestiyonableng records.
Pero may aktibong koordinasyon naman aniya ang DFA sa NBI, Bureau of Immigration at PSA.
Aniya, “We have one case in Davao where our consulate office immediately called the NBI agents who were able to apprehend the 21 yr old Chinese foreign national.”
Isinumite na rin aniya ng DFA sa NBI para sa imbestigasyon ang 71 kaso ng fraudulent passport applicants.
Inaabisuhan din ng DFA ang consular affairs offices na agad na iulat sa pinakamalapit na istasyon ng pulisya ang mga nasabing aplikante.
Samantala, inihayag pa ni Cruz na kabuuang 66 na pasaporte ang kinansela ng DFA matapos mapatunayan na iligal itong inisyu sa mga banyaga.
Sen. LOren Legarda /Photo: Senate website
Hiningi naman ni Senadora Loren Legarda sa DFA ang listahan ng pangalan at address ng 171 fraudulent applicants at ang mga aksyon na ginawa ng kagawaran.
Ayon kay Legarda, “May we also have perhaps a memo advisory from the Office of the Secretary on moving forward effective immediately on what to do. Congratulations because you are able to apprehend or at least prevent the 171, but may nakalusot dahil wala pa tayong maliwanag na gagawin and clear line of communication with the NBI.”
Moira Encina-Cruz
