NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
s. No. 691
Senate
c*' of U;f
72 JUL18 A10 :11
RHCEIVEDBV:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NEW PASSPORT LAW, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE 
PASSPORT ACT OF 1996"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article III Section 6 of the Constitution provides that the right to travel shall 
not be impaired, except in the interest of national security, public safety or public 
health.
Republic Act No. 8239 or the "Philippine Passport Act of 1996" was enacted 
twenty-six years ago, pursuant to that Constitutional guarantee. It affirmed the 
inviolability of the people's right to travel. As defined In the said law, the passport is 
a "document issued by the Philippine government to its citizens and requesting other 
governments to allow its citizens to pass safely and freely, and in case of need to 
give him/her all lawful aid and protection."
In 2017, RA 8239 was later amended by RA 10928 to extend the validity of 
regular passports from five (5) years to ten (10) years.
This bill provides a new passport law that is updated with recent measures 
enacted by Congress, and that recognizes the advancement of technology to ensure 
accessibility and convenience in the application process. It also institutes safeguards 
against unauthorized access and disclosure of personal information, and prohibits 
unfair and discriminatory practices, such as submission of extraneous and 
unnecessary documents, as experienced by some applicants. Lastly, this proposed 
legislation introduces accommodations such as special lanes for the vulnerable


sectors and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), fifty percent (50%) discount rates for 
senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), and expedited processing for 
Muslim Filipinos who are intending pilgrims to the annual hajj pilgrimage.
A similar bill was approved by the House of Representatives on Third and 
Final Reading during the Eighteenth Congress, and became the subject of public 
hearings of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
In this light, the passage of this bill is recommended.
RAMON/BONG REVILLA, 3R.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 681
Uk §^tmz
‘22 JUL18 A10 :11
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NEW PASSPORT LAW, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE 
PASSPORT ACT OF 1996"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short 77'f/e -This Act shall be known as the "NewPhilippine Passport
Act.
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The people's constitutional right to travel is 
inviolable. Accordingly, the government has the duty to issue passports or any travel 
document to any citizen of the Philippines or individual who complies with the 
requirements of this Act, using, as much as practicable, the latest tamper-proof, 
personalization, and data management technology. The right to travel may be 
impaired only when national security, public safety, or public health so requires. To 
enhance and protect the unimpaired exercise of this right, only minimum requirements 
for the application and Issuance of passports and other travel documents shall be 
prescribed. The government shall ensure expeditious action on such applications and 
the Issuance of passports and travel documents.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a) Ambassadors- refer to those who have been appointed as Chiefs of Mission 
and are currently serving as Ambassadors Extraordinary and 
Plenipotentiary;


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b) Biographic data - refers to an individual's full name, birth date, birth place, 
and sex as recorded in the certificate of live birth or report of birth;
c) Biometric data - refers to front facing photograph, iris scan and/or such 
other identifiable features of an individual;
d) Convention on InternationaiAviation or Chicago Convention - refers to the 
Convention which sets out certain principles and arrangements for the 
development of International civil aviation and establishment of 
international air transport services signed in Chicago In 1944 and which 
entered into force in 1968;
e) Consular offices (CO) - refer to field offices of the Department of Foreign 
Affairs (DFA) Office of Consular Affairs located in the Philippines where 
passport and consular services are provided;
f) Consuiar Officiai- refers to a DFA official assigned to the Office of Consular 
Affairs, DFA Consular Offices in the Philippines and Foreign Service Posts, 
who is responsible for providing passport and other consular services.
g) Fugitives from justice - refer to those who flee after conviction to avoid 
punishment and those who, after being charged, flee to avoid prosecution;
h) Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) - refer to embassies, missions, consulates 
general, and other foreign service establishments maintained by the DFA;
i) ICAO - refers to the Internationai Civil Aviation Organization, a specialized 
agency of the UN, established by UN Member States in 1944 to manage the 
administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil 
Aviation or the Chicago Convention;
j) Issuing Authority - refers to the DFA Office of Consular Affairs, DFA 
Consular Offices in the Philippines, or the Philippine Foreign Service Posts 
overseas which issue passports and provide other consular services;
k) Large scaie- refers to the commission of any of the offenses under this Act 
against three (3) or more persons Individually or as a group;
l) Machine Readabie Travei Document - refers to an official document, 
conforming with the specifications contained In ICAO Document 9303, 
issued by a State or organization, which Is used by the holder for 
international travei and which contains mandatory visual data and a


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separate mandatory data summary in a format which is capable of being
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read by a machine;
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m) Passport- refers to the ICAO-compliant machine readable travel document
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Issued by the Philippine Government which contains a request to other
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governments to permit its bearer to pass safely and freely, and to provide
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all lawful aid and protection, if needed;
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n) Recognized alien residents- refer to aliens who are permanent residents of
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the Philippines, or who are Stateless persons or refugees, as recognized by
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the Philippine Government;
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o) Syndicate - refers to a group of three (3) or more persons conspiring with
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one another; and
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p) Travel Document- refers to a form of identification, compliant with current
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ICAO standards, that the Philippines government issues to its citizens or
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recognized residents so they can cross international borders in lieu of a
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regular passport.
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Sec. 4. Authority to Issue, Deny, or Revoke. - Upon the application of any
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qualified Filipino citizen, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, hereinafter referred to as
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Secretary, or any duly authorized consular officer may issue passports in accordance
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with this Act.
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Philippine consular officials In a foreign country shall be authorized by the
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Secretary to issue, verify, deny, or revoke a passport in the area of jurisdiction of the
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Foreign Service Post in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
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In the interest of national security, public safety, and public health, the
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Secretary or any of the authorized consular officials may, after due hearing and in
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their proper discretion, deny issuance of a passport or revoke a passport: Provided,
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however. That such act shall not mean a loss of or a doubt on the person's citizenship:
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Provided, further. That the issuance of a passport may not be denied if the safety and
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interest of the Filipino citizen are at stake: Provided, finally, That denial or revocation
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of a passport shall not prevent the issuance of an Emergency Travel Document.
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Sec. 5. Requirements for the Issuance of a Passport. - The Secretary, or a duly
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authorized consular official, shall issue a passport to an applicant who is a Filipino
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citizen and who has complied with the following requirements:


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a) A duly accomplished application form;
b) Proof of citizenship as prescribed by relevant laws regarding the acquisition 
of Philippine citizenship which include, but are not limited to:
1) Certificate of Live Birth or Report of Birth, whichever is applicable, for 
natural born citizens authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority 
(PSA);
2) Naturalization Certificate for Naturalized citizens;
3) Filipino Identification Certificate by Election for those who were born 
before January 17,1973, of Filipino mothers, and who elected Philippine 
citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; or
4) Documents issued upon Reacquisition or Retention of Philippine 
citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225 otherwise known as "Citizenship 
Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003";
c) Valid and sufficient proof of identity, foremost of which is the individual's 
record In the Philippine Identification System (PhllSys) as provided for in 
Section 6 of Republic Act No. 11055 or the "Philippine Identification System 
Act,"
d) PSA authenticated Certificate of Marriage or Report of Marriage, whichever 
is applicable, for a married woman who wishes to use her husband's 
surname;
e) Duly annotated PSA authenticated Certificate of Marriage or Report of 
Marriage, whichever is applicable, of a woman who wishes to revert to the 
use of her maiden name by virtue of an annulment, declaration of nullity of 
marriage, legal separation, or a judicially-recognized foreign divorce; or 
Death Certificate or Report of Death of the husband;
0 For a minor applicant, the application may be filed by either parent: 
Provided, That if a person other than the minor's parents files the 
application, a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) duly executed by a person 
exercising parental authority must be presented for this purpose; 
g) Certificate Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption (CDCLAA) issued 
by the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) if the applicant is a 
prospective adoptive child under the Republic Act No. 11642, otherwise


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known as the "Donnestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care
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Act."
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h) For applicants who are sixty-five (65) years old and above, who are
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renewing their passports, the DFA shall implement a system wherein the
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applicants may submit their application without the need to physically
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appear in the Office of Consular Affairs or any Consular Office, through the
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use of available technology, as far as practicable;
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i) In case of discrepancy, the applicant's name or other details in the birth
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certificate or report of birth shall prevail over that appearing in any other
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public or private document: Provided, however. That by operation of law or
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through court order, the applicant is permitted to use a name other than
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what is officially recorded in the PSA or the Local Civil Registry Office
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(LCRO);
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j) A travel authority, issued by the head of the department, agency or office
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or a duly authorized representative, if the applicant is a government official
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or employee seeking to apply for a diplomatic or official passport; The DFA
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is mandated to ensure the integrity of the passport at all times. As such, the
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Secretary or duly authorized consular official may require the applicant to
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provide additional documents until the latter adequately establishes
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citizenship and identity.
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Sec. 6. Prohibition against unfair and discriminatory practices. - The DFA, as
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well as its authorized passport issuing authorities and personnel. Is hereby prohibited
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from conducting unfair and discriminatory practices, including but not limited to the
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ordering of submission of extraneous and unnecessary certifications, proof and
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documentary requirements not enumerated or specified in this Act or its implementing
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rules and regulations, or unduly and arbitrarily delaying the issuance and release of
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passport or travel documents without valid and just cause and even after submission
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of all requirements provided in this Act or its implementing rules and regulations.
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Sec. 7. Appiication. - A person applying for a passport for the first time shall
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be required to appear in person for biometric and biographic data capturing.
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A person exercising parental authority shall assist an applicant who is a minor.


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An applicant who is unable to read or write, persons with disability or a senior
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citizen may be assisted by a relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or
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affinity, or by the travelling companion of the applicant. The DFA may require other
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or additional documents as may be specified in the rules and regulations promulgated
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for the implementation of this Act.
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Personal appearance as well as other additional documents shall be required
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by the DFA as specified in the rules and regulations promulgated for the
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implementation of this Act: Provided, That senior citizens who are sixty-five (65) years
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old and above may renew their passports without need of personal appearance.
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Sec. 8. Types of Passports. - The Secretary or the authorized consular officer
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may issue the following types of passports:
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a) Diplomatic Passports are issued to persons with diplomatic status or who
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are on diplomatic mission, such as:
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1) The President and former Presidents of the Philippines;
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2) The Vice President and former Vice Presidents of the Philippines;
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3) The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
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Representatives, and former Presidents of the Senate and Speakers of
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the House of Representatives;
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4) The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and the
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Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals, and the Sandiganbayan;
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5) The Secretary. Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries of the DFA;
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6) The Members of Congress, the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary
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General of the House of Representatives;
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7) The Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of
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the Philippines; Chiefs of Mission, and Foreign Service Officers of all
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ranks in the career diplomatic service. Including designated attaches
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from the DFA and agencies of the government, including the officials of
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the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) as created under Section 15 of
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Republic Act No. 11641 or the "Department of Migrant Workers Act";
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8) The Secretaries of all departments of the Executive branch;
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9) The Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas;


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10)The Official delegates to international or regional conferences accorded
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full powers by the President; and
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ll)The spouses and unmarried minor children of the abovementioned
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officials when accompanying or following to join them in an official
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mission abroad.
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The President of the Philippines or the Secretary may grant diplomatic passport
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to officials and persons other than those enumerated herein who are on official mission
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abroad or are granted full powers by the President.
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b) Official Passports are issued to all government officials and employees on
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official trip abroad but who are not on a diplomatic mission or have not been
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accorded diplomatic status, such as:
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1) The Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries of the Cabinet other than
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the DFA, the Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals and the
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Sandiganbayan, and other members of the Judiciary, all other
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government officials and employees travelling on official business and
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official time;
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2) Staff officers and employees of the DFA assigned to diplomatic and
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consular posts, and officers and representatives of other government
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departments and agencies assigned abroad;
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3) Persons in the domestic service and household members of officials
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assigned to diplomatic or consular posts not exceeding two (2):
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Provided, That an increase in domestic service and household members
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of such officials shall be approved by the Secretary; and
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4) Spouse and minor children of the staff officers and employees of the
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DFA assigned to diplomatic or consular posts and offices and
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representatives of other government agencies assigned abroad, when
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accompanying or following to join them.
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c) Regular Passports are issued to Filipino citizens who are not eligible or
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entitled to diplomatic or official passports, including government officials or
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employees going abroad for pleasure or other personal reasons.
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Government officials and employees and members of their families may,
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during their Incumbency in office, hold two (2) passports simultaneously:


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1) A regular passport for private travel; and
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2) A diplomatic or official passport when travelling abroad on diplomatic or
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official business. The spouse and minor children of persons entitled to
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diplomatic or official passports shall be issued regular passports if they
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are not accompanying or following to join them.
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d) Emergency Passports, which shall be valid for one (1) year from the date of
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issuance, are issued to Filipino citizens who have been previously issued
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regular passports but for one reason or another, cannot apply for or cannot
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be issued a regular passport.
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Sec. 9. Grounds for Denial of Issuance of Passport or Revocation of Passport.
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- A passport application may be denied, or revoked, on the following grounds:
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a) On orders of the court, to hold the departure of an applicant because of a
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pending criminal case;
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b) On orders of the court, when the holder has been convicted of a criminal
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offense: Provided, That a passport may be issued after service of sentence;
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c) On orders of the court, when the holder is a fugitive from justice;
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d) When a passport was acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued
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erroneously;
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e) When a passport Is returned to the DFA by other government agencies or
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entities: Provided, That revocation of the passport will not prevent the
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holder from being issued a new passport;
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f) On written notarized request by the persons exercising parental authority
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over a minor applicant or passport holder: Provided, That if the requesting
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party is not a Filipino, the consent of the Filipino parent is required;
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g) When the applicant has been found to have violated any of the provisions
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of this Act; and
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h) Such other disqualification under existing laws.
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Sec. 9. Passport Databases. - The DFA shall create the following databases:
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a) Passport database which shall contain all current and if available, previous
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passport and travel document records of Philippines citizens, including
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recognized alien residents;


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b) Watchlist database which shall contain the names of persons whose 
passport applications have been denied or whose passports were revoked 
under Section 4 as well as those persons found to have committed, or 
attempted to commit, offenses under Section 19 of this Act. No passport 
shall be issued to the persons found in the database until they are able to 
meet the documentary or legal requirements for the removal of their names 
from the database.
. The Secretary or any of the duly-authorized consular officials may 
recommend the inclusion of persons In the database other than those 
; previously cited for other reasons that may provided a basis for the DFA to 
deny issuance of a passport to these persons.
Nothing in the above provisions shali prevent the issuance of other types of 
travel documents to persons included In the watchlist, at the discretion of 
the Secretary or duly-authorized consular officials.
c) Stolen, lost, and revoked database which shall contain the information on 
passports and travel documents of persons who declared that their 
passports or travel documents have been lost or stolen.
The passport or travel document that has been revoked by the DFA under 
Section 4 of this Act shall also be included in this database.
Sec. 10. Safeguards on the Passport database. - DFA, with the technical 
assistance and expertise of the Department of Information and Communications 
Technology (DICT), shall implement appropriate organizational, technical and physical 
security measures to ensure that the information gathered for the Passport database 
is protected against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, tampering, and accidental 
or intentional loss, destruction and damage.
Sec. 11. Appeal. -Any person whose passport application was denied or 
revoked shall have the right to appeal to the Secretary, whose decision may be 
reviewed by the appropriate court.
SeCi 12. Validity. - As provided for under Republic Act No. 10928 extending the 
validity of Philippine passports, regular passports issued under this Act shall be valid 
for a period often (10) years: Provided, however. That for individuals under eighteen 
(18) years of age, only a passport with five (5)-year validity shall be issued: Provided,


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further, That the issuing authority may limit the period of validity to less than ten (10)
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years, whenever In the national economic interest or political stability of the country
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such restriction is necessary: Provided, finally. That a new passport may be issued to
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replace one which validity has expired, the old passport being returned to the holder
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after cancellation.
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Sec. 13. Ownership of Passports. - A Philippine passport remains at all times
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the property of the government, the holder being a mere possessor thereof for the
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duration of the passport's validity and the same may not be surrendered to any entity
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or person other than the government or its duly authorized representative.
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Sec. 14. Names and Titles. - Passports shall contain the full name of the
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applicant, but shall not include any title, profession or job description.
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Sec. 15. Other Travel Documents. - The following travel documents may be
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issued in lieu of a passport, under the circumstances listed hereunder:
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a) Emergency Travel Document which shall be valid for one (1) year from the
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date of issuance, for:
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1) A Filipino citizen with urgent travel requirements who, for one reason or
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another, has lost one's passport or whose passport has expired or is
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expiring and cannot be issued a regular passport;
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2) A Filipino citizen with emergency travel requirements, who has not been
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Issued a regular passport and who, for one reason or another, cannot
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be issued a regular passport.
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b) Travel Document Certificate which shall be valid for thirty (30) days from
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the date of issuance, for:
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1) A Filipino citizen being repatriated to the Philippines;
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2) The alien spouse of a Filipino and their dependents who have not yet
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been naturalized as a Filipino and who are travelling to the Philippines
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or Is a permanent resident of the Philippines returning from travelling
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abroad; and
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3) Allens permanently residing in the Philippines who are not able to obtain
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a passport or other travel documents from their countries of origin.
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c) Convention Travel Document which shall be valid for five (5) years from the
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date of issuance, shall be issued for a Stateless person who is likewise a
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permanent resident or a refugee granted such status or asylum in the
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Philippines.
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Sec. 16. Loss or Destruction of a Passport. - The loss or destruction of a
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passport shall be immediately reported to the DFA or a Foreign Service Post. The
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holder of such passport shall submit an affidavit stating in detail the circumstances of
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such loss or destruction. As used in this Act, a lost passport is one the whereabouts
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of which are unknown to the applicant despite diligent search, or if known, may not
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be retrieved, recovered and produced by the applicant for reasons beyond the
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applicant's control.
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Should the DFA find that the applicant made false claims or deliberately
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withheld information about the loss of the passport or passports, the applicant shall
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be held liable under Section 19(b) of this Act.
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Sec. 17. Fees. - Reasonable fees, as may be determined by the Secretary, shall
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be collected for the processing and issuance of a passport or a travel document.
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Senior citizens and persons with disability shall be entitled to at least fifty
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percent (50%) discount on the processing, issuance or replacement of a passport.
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Sec. 18. Establishment of an Online Application Porta! and Electronic One Stop
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Shop. - The DFA, with the assistance and cooperation of other agencies involved in
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the procurement and issuance of the requirements enumerated in Section 5 of this
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Act, is mandated to establish and maintain an online application portal and Electronic
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One Stop Shop readily accessible on its official website to facilitate convenience of
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application and ease in gathering and submission of the requirements.
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Sec. 19. Passport Revolving Fund. - The DFA may charge a service fee of not
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more than fifty percent (50%) of the current fees, as determined in Section 16 of this
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Act for services rendered to applicants relating to the processing or issuance of
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passports requiring special consideration, waiver or issuance beyond regular office
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hours.
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The service fees rendered by the DFA under this section shall constitute a
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revolving fund to be called the "Passport Revolving Fund" which may be utilized by
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the DFA primarily for the improvement of its passporting and consular services and
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other DFA services except travel and transportation allowances and expenses.
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The use and disbursement of the Passport Revolving Fund shall be subject to
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audit by the Commission on Audit. The Secretan/ shall submit a report on the collection
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and use of the Passport Revolving Fund to the Senate and the House of
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Representatives semi-annually.
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Sec. 20. Waiver. - The Secretary is soleiy authorized to waive any requirement
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set forth in Section 5 of this Act, as well as the fees for the processing and issuance
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of passports and travel documents prescribed under Section 16 of this Act.
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Sec. 21. Setting up ofSpeciaiLanes.-The DFA shall arrange accommodations
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to expedite the application and renewal of passports for senior citizens, persons with
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disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and
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individuals with emergency and exceptional cases through the creation of special
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lanes. The DFA shall also institute arrangements to expedite the application and
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renewal for regular passports from the months of March to June for Muslim Filipinos
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who are intending pilgrims to the annual hajj pilgrimage in coordination with the
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National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).
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Sec. 22. Offenses and Penaities. - A passport, being a proclamation of the
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citizenship of a Filipino, is superior to all other official documents and as such, shall
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be accorded the higher respect by Its holder. Any act prejudicial to its integrity is a
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grave crime against the security of the State and shall be penalized accordingly:
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a) Offenses relating to issuances; penalties. - A fine of not less than Fifteen
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thousand pesos (P15,000.00) but not more than Sixty thousand pesos
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(P60,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1)
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day not more than twelve (12) years shall be imposed to any person who:
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1) Acts or claims to act in any capacity or office under the Republic of the
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Philippines without lawful authority, accepts passport applications,
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grants, issues or verifies any passport or travel document to any or for
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any person whomsoever, or is caught selling in whatever capacity
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passport application forms, or lost or stolen passports and travel
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documents; or
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2) Acts or claims to act in any capacity, with the intention to profit thereby,
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intercepts a person proceeding to the DFA or any of its consular offices
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or Foreign Service Posts to apply for a passport, and persuades, entices,
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encourages, or misleads such applicant to course the application through
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another person or agency other than the DFA or its personnel on the
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pretext of facilitating its approval or issuance by the DFA; or
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3) Being neither a diplomatic or consular official, nor an employee
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authorized to grant, issue, or verify any passport or travel document to
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or for any person, and even though not claiming to be such, offers, for
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any material gain or consideration, to escort a passport applicant, or
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assist the same in booking an appointment, filling out an application
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form, making payments, handling application documents, or any other
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action relating to passport application.
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A fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000.00) but not more than
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Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years
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and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years, and upon conviction, perpetual
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disqualification from holding public office shall be imposed to any person who:
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1) Being a diplomatic or consular official authorized to grant, issue, or verify 
passports, knowingly and wilfully grants, issues, or verifies any such 
passport to any or for any person not owing allegiance to the Republic 
of the Philippines, whether citizen or not; or
2) Being a diplomatic or consular officer, knowingly and wilfully grants, 
issues, or certifies to the authenticity of any passport or travel document 
for any person not entitled thereto, or knowingly and wilfully issues more 
than one (1) passport to any person except as provided for in this Act.
b) Offenses relating to false statements; penalties. A fine of not less than 
Fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000.00) but not more than Sixty thousand 
pesos (P60,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one 
(1) day but not more than twelve (12) years shall be Imposed to any person 
who wilfully and knowingly:
1) Makes any false statement in any application for passport with the intent 
to induce or secure the issuance of a passport under the authority of the 
Philippine government, for any purpose, contrary to this Act or rules and 
regulations prescribed pursuant hereto; or
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2) Makes any false statement in an Affidavit declaring a passport as lost
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while knowing its actual whereabouts or not exerting diligent effort to
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retrieve, recover and produce the same; or
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3) Uses or attempts to use any passport which was secured in any way by
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reason of any false statement.
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c) Offenses relating to forgery; penalties. - Any person who:
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1) Falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, mutilates or alters any passport or
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travel document or any supporting document for a passport application,
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with the intent of using the same, shall be punished by a fine of not less
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than Seventy-five thousand pesos (P75,000.00) but not more than One
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hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000.00) and imprisonment of not
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less than six (6) years but not more than fifteen (15) years. The
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possession of the documents herein mentioned shall be prima facie
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evidence of commission of the acts enumerated herein and the intent to
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use the same; or
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2) Wilfully or knowingly uses or attempts to use, or furnishes to another for
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use any such false, forged, counterfeited, mutilated or altered passport
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or travel document or any passport validly issued which has become void
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by the occurrence of any condition herein prescribed shall be punished
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by a fine of not less than Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000.00) but not
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more than One hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000.00) and
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imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than fifteen
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(15) years.
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Provided, That forgeries of five or more passports or travel documents, would
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be considered as massive forgery tantamount to national sabotage and shall be
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punished by a fine of not less than Two hundred and fifty thousand pesos
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(P250,000.00) nor more than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) and imprisonment of
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not less than seven (7) years nor more than seventeen (17) years.
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d) Offenses relating to improper use of passports and travel documents;
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penalties. - A fine of not less than Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000.00) but
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not more than One hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000.00) and
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imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than fifteen (15) 
years shall be imposed upon any person who wilfully and knowingly:
1) Uses or attempts to use any passport issued or designed for the use of 
another or any supporting document for a passport application which 
belongs to another; or
2) Uses or attempts to use any passport or supporting document in 
violation of the conditions or restrictions therein contained, or of the 
rules prescribed pursuant thereto; or
3) Furnishes, disposes, or delivers a passport to an person other than to 
that in whose name and for whose use it was issued, except when the 
applicant is a minor, a senior citizen, or physically or mentally 
incapacitated and the passport is released to the parent, guardian or 
immediate relative: Provided, That in case of any emergency and for 
humanitarian reasons, at the discretion of the head of the Office of 
Consular Affairs or the head of the Foreign Service Post, the passport 
may be released to a third party upon the submission of a written 
authorization from the applicant; or
4) Defaces or destroys a Philippine passport; or
5) Sells, trades, pawns, mortgages or uses an issued passport or travel 
document as collateral to secure debt, or in any manner uses such 
passport or travel document as current or object of commerce; Provided, 
That In such situation, the buyer, trader, creditor, or mortgagee shall 
also be liable to the same extent as the passport/travel document holder;
e) Offenses relating to multiple possession of passports; penalties. - No person 
or individual may hold more than one (1) valid passport, except as provided 
for in Section 7 hereof, and any individual who possesses more than one 
(1) unexpired passport shall, for every unexpired passport found in the 
individuals possession, be punished by a fine of not less than Fifteen 
thousand pesos (P15,000.00) but not more than Sixty thousand pesos 
(P60,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) 
day but not more than twelve (12) years; Provided, That the maximum fine 
and Imprisonment shall be imposed by the court for any attempt to use or
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the actual use of an unexpired passport which is not in the name of the 
user.
f) Offenses relating to forgery of visas and entry documents; penalties. - A 
fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos (PIS/OOO.OO) but not more than 
Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than three 
(3) years but not more than ten (10) years shall be Imposed upon any 
person who:
1) Knowingly forges, counterfeits, alters or falsely makes any immigrant or 
non-immigrant visa, permit, border crossing card, alien registration card, 
or other document prescribed by statute or regulation for entry into or 
as evidence of authorized stay or employment in the Philippines or 
elsewhere with the Intent of using the same;
2) Knowingly uses, attempts to use, possesses obtains, or receives any 
such visa, permit, border crossing card, alien registration card, or other 
document prescribed by statute or regulation for entry Into or as 
evidence of authorized stay or employment in the Philippines or 
elsewhere, knowing it to be forged, counterfeited, altered or falsely 
made, or to have been procured by means of any false claim or 
statement, or to have been procured by means of any false claim or 
statement, to have been otherwise procured by fraud or unlawfully 
obtained: Provided, That the use of forged, counterfeited, altered or 
falsely made visa, permit, border crossing card, alien registration card or 
any entry document shall be prima facie evidence of knowledge of its 
forgery, counterfeiting, alteration, or falsity; or
3) Knowingly possesses any blank permit or engraves, sells, brings Into the 
Philippines, or has the control or possession in any plate in the likeness 
of a plate designed for the printing of permits, or makes any print, 
photograph or impression in the likeness of any immigrant or non­
immigrant visa, permit, or other document required for entry into the 
Philippines or elsewhere, or is in possession of the distinctive paper 
which has been adopted by the DFA for the printing of such visas, 
permits or other documents: Provided, That the person who forges.
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counterfeits, alters or false makes any immigrant or non-immigrant visa, 
permit, border crossing card, alien registration card or other entry 
document shall be punished by a fine of not less than Sixty thousand 
pesos (P60,000.00) but not more than One hundred fifty thousand pesos 
(P150,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years, but not 
more than fifteen (15) years for each visa or entry document, 
g) Offenses relating to illegal withholding of passport; penalties. - Any person 
who confiscates, retains, or withholds, without any legal authority, any valid 
passport issued by the DFA shall be guilty of the crime of illegal withholding 
of passport: Provided, That the act of withholding or denying passports or 
travel documents from applicant workers before departure, for monetary or 
financial considerations, or for any other reasons, other than those 
authorized under the Labor Code and Its implementing rules and 
regulations, shall continue to be considered as "illegal recruitmenr and be 
penalized as such crime under Section 6 (k) and Section 7, respectively, of 
Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and 
Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022.
Any person found guilty of the crime of "Illegal Withholding of Passport" 
shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and 
one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years, and shall pay a fine of not 
less than One million pesos (PI,000,000.00) but not more than Two million 
pesos (P2,000,000.00).
If the offender is a public official, in addition to the prescribed penalties, the 
offender shall be dismissed from service and shall suffer perpetual absolute 
disqualification to hold office.
If the offender is a corporation, paitnership, association, or any juridical 
person, then the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, partner, 
manager, and/or any responsible officer of the organization who directly 
participated in the commission of the violation of this Act and allowed its 
perpetuation and continuance: Provided, That in every case, the criminal 
conviction of the liable officer/s shall cause and carry the automatic 
revocation of the business license and/or special certificate of accreditation
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or certificate of registration of corporation, partnership, association or
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juridical person; Provided further. That these entities and their officers who
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are criminally held liable for the violation of this Act shall not be allowed to
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operate similar establishments under different names. If the offender is an
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alien in the Philippine territory, in addition to the penalties above, the alien
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shall be deported after serving the sentence and be permanently barred
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from entering the country.
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h) The penalties provided for under this Section shall be imposed in their
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maximum when the offenses are committed by a syndicate or on a large
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scale.
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i) In case any of the offenses prohibited in this Act constitutes a violation of
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the Revised Penal Code and the penalty Imposed therein is higher than that
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provided in this Act, the penalty prescribed in this Act shall be imposed.
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Sec. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary shall issue the
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rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of and carry out the policy
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set forth in this Act within sixty (60) days from the effectivlty of this Act.
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Sec. 24. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 25. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 8239, otherwise known as the
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"Philippine Passport Act of 1996," is hereby repealed. Any law, presidential decree or
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Issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation
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contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
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modified, or amended accordingly.
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Sec. 26. Effectivlty. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved/
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