Bato: DFA budget may also be recalled over issuance of PH passports to foreigners

The proposed P24-billion budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which earlier hurdled a Senate panel, may also be recalled due to the issuance of Philippine passports to foreign nationals who pretend to be Filipinos, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, dela Rosa reiterated how the issue may possibly affect national security, saying, “For all we know, paggising natin one day, itong mga kapitbahay pala natin, may passport na ng Pilipino.”

(For all we know, when we wake up one day, our neighbors may already have Philippine passports.

The Senate on Thursday withdrew the plenary approval of the proposed 2024 budget of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) over the alleged issuance of authentic birth certificates to foreign nationals which enabled them to get Philippine passports.

“Pinapa-recall ang budget ng PSA although nakapasa na. Pinabalik niya, pinapasalang niya ulit. Puwede rin nating gawin ‘yan sa DFA kung sakaling hindi tayo satisfied sa gagawin nilang position paper tungkol sa kanilang actions taken,” dela Rosa said.

(The PSA budget is being recalled even though it was already approved. The senators wanted it reviewed again. We can also do that with the DFA in case we are not satisfied with their position paper about their actions taken.)

In September, the Senate Committee on Finance approved DFA’s proposed 2024 budget, and was deemed submitted to the plenary.

The following month, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) revealed that they intercepted 10 foreigners for using a Philippine passport even if they did not look or speak like a Filipino.

According to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the DFA, which is the issuing authority of Philippine passports, already confirmed the issuance of the passports but they are still investigating the circumstances.

Tansingco said all the 10 foreigners were already in the BI’s custody and were charged with deportation cases.

But Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said these foreigners should not be deported immediately as they should face falsification charges. —KG, GMA Integrated News