Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has called for Philippine visa processing to be outsourced to third-party providers, a comment which drew a sharp objection from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking on DZRH on Saturday, October 24, Remulla said foreign service officers should focus on diplomacy rather than handling visa applications.
“Ang problema ng DFA, they forget that their primary job is to be diplomats. Eh dito iba ‘yung gusto nilang mangyari, gusto nilang magnegosyo,” Remulla said.
(“The problem with the DFA is that they forget that their primary job is to be diplomats. But here, they want something else to happen; they want to go into business.”)
“Ako talaga ang stance ko diyan, let the Philippine visa processing be done by a third party, VFS (Visa Facilitation Services). Para alam natin kung sino pumapasok, nave-vet natin lahat ng pumapasok,” he added.
(“My position is to let Philippine visa processing be handled by a third party, like VFS. That way, we know who is entering and we can vet everyone coming in.”)
Remulla argued that using a third-party provider would establish a uniform international standard for processing applications and screening tourists and business travelers.
“Kasi pag binigay sa VFS ‘yan, it will become a standard of the country for the rest of the world,” he said.
(“Because if that is given to VFS, it will become the country’s standard for the rest of the world.”)
Remulla also said immigration matters should pass through the Department of Justice because of the need to conduct background checks on people entering the country.
“Dapat dumaan sa Department of Justice yan. I think so, because we want to get a background of the people entering our country,” Remulla said.
(“That should go through the Department of Justice. I think so, because we want to get a background check on the people entering our country.”)
DFA ‘strongly objects’
The DFA pushed back against Remulla’s remarks, saying they undermined the agency’s integrity and unfairly tarnished the reputation of the Philippine Foreign Service and its personnel.
The department said its authority to issue visas is grounded in both domestic and international law.
It cited Executive Order No. 292, or the Administrative Code of 1987, which recognizes visa issuance as a consular function, as well as the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
The DFA also explained that third-party providers such as VFS may perform administrative functions, including receiving visa applications, but do not have the authority to approve or deny them.
That authority remains with Philippine diplomatic missions, the department said.
“The visa fees collected are pursuant to applicable laws and regulations, including the prescribed Schedule of Fees. The DFA does not tolerate corruption and remains committed to accountability, transparency, and utmost professionalism in the delivery of public service,” the DFA said.