Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco has again questioned the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on why it is still not cancelling the passport of resigned Ako Bicol Representative Elizaldy Co, even alleging that the agency seems to be defending him and standing as his ‘lawyer.’
Tiangco said this in a press briefing on Friday, after meeting with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) amid the investigation on the alleged anomalies in infrastructure projects across the country.
The lawmaker underscored that the DFA has the power to cancel the passport of Co.
‘They have the power to cancel the passport. Now, what I don’t understand is why it seems like DFA or other government officials are still defending Zaldy Co on why the passport can’t be canceled? Cancel it, then let his lawyer question the cancellation in court,’ Tiangco said.
‘Why does it seem like they are lawyering for him? There is a legal process. That’s their function,’ he pointed out.
On October 9, the DFA said that based on the New Philippine Passport Act, it ‘may cancel a Philippine passport only upon the issuance of a court order when the holder is a fugitive from justice or convicted of a criminal offense; or when there is proof that a passport was acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously.’
Meanwhile, Tiangco mentioned that, according to RA 11983 (New Passport Act), Section 4, one of the grounds for the cancellation of a passport is ‘national security.’
‘People are very angry. Maybe we can agree that people are very angry. There are mass movements. These mass movements, bad elements can take advantage of them to destabilize the government,’ Tiangco said.
‘Isn’t that a national security issue? Isn’t that situation fall under it?’ he emphasized.
‘In the DFA, isn’t that a matter of time yet? So, why don’t you cancel it? Then let his lawyer take care of the questions,’ he further said.
When asked if the issue on Co was discussed during his meeting with the ICI, Tiangco said, ‘We didn’t discuss it.’
The lawmaker clarified that no personalities were discussed in the meeting, as he clarified that the ICI only asked him about the overall process of budget insertions in the Congress.
‘To make it very clear, there are no personalities being discussed. What is always being discussed is the process. My impression is that they want to understand the process-the whole process, how it starts, what are the possible-of course they are investigating; they will not disclose to me what evidence they are looking for, right?’ he said.
Meanwhile, following Tiangco’s statement this Friday, the DFA released a statement, maintaining its stance that ‘there is a process for cancellation of passports.’
The agency also reiterated its previous statement that based on the New Philippine Passport Act, it may cancel a Philippine passport ‘only upon the issuance of a court order when the holder is a fugitive from justice or convicted of a criminal offense; or when there is proof that a passport was acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously.’
Co is currently being sought for his alleged involvement in anomalous infrastructure projects across the country, specifically for the supposed irregularities in flood control projects linked to his company, Sunwest Inc.