SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
s.B.2229 
Introduced by Senator Sonny Angara 
SrnEltr 
("@"lhrt tJl ti!e ~l'tTrhlf-~ 
'14 
MAY 15 P 4 :22 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NEW PASSPORT LAW, REPEALING 
FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED 
THIRTY-NINE (R.A. NO. 8239), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE 
PASSPORT ACT OF 1996" 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article III, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the right to travel 
shall not be "impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, 
as may be provided by law." Pursuant to this, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 8239 or the 
Philippine Passport Act of 1996. Under that law, it is the duty of government to issue passports 
or any travel document to any citizen or individual who complies with the requirements stated 
therein. 
Eighteen years have passed since the passage of Republic Act No. 8239. Therefore, in 
keeping with the State's policy of providing only minimum requirements for the issuance of 
such documents as well as its duty to enhance and protect the people's unimpaired exercise of 
their constitutional right to travel, there is a need to amend the existing Act to simplify both 
the passport documentation requirements and the application process of the Department of 
Fo reig n Affa i rs. 
In amending the provision relating to the requirements for the issuance of passports, 
this bill considers laws that have been passed since the passage of the existing Act such as 
Republic Act No. 8552 or the DomestiC Adoption Act of 1998 and Republic Act No. 9226 or the 
Citizenship and Reacquisition Act of 2003. The bill also provides special procedures to facilitate 
the passport applications of illiterate, physically disabled, and senior Citizens. 
To ensure that Filipinos are better served by the Department of Foreign Affairs, this bill 
a'lso seeks to amend the provision on the Passport Revolving Fund to allow it to be utilized by 
the Department for the improvement of its passport issuance, consular, and other services. 
This bill is the counterpart of House Bill No. 4006 filed by Congressmen Bichara, 
Batocabe, Co, Revilla, Del Rosario (A.G.), Yap (5.), Seneres, Dalog, Quisumbing, Arnaiz, 
Bataoil, Bello (W.), Cortuna, Padilla, Villa rica And Barzaga under Committee Report No. 93. 
In view of the foregOing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ANGARA 


., 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
SENATE 
s.B.2229 
Introduced by Senator Sonny Angara 
, 
'se rill h' 
Ililtfl" .f t~, }'" "I.rv 
"14 
MAY 15 P 4 :22 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NEW PASSPORT LAW, REPEALING 
FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED 
THIRTY-NINE (R.A. 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: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be called the "New Philippine Passport Act". 
2 
SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. 
-
The people's constitutional right to travel is inviolable. 
3 
Accordingly, the government has the duty to issue tamper proof passports using the latest data 
4 
management technology as much as practicable or a travel document to any citizen of the 
5 
Philippines or individual who complies with the requirements of this Act. The right to travel may 
6 
be impaired only when national security, public safety, or public health requires. To enhance 
7 
and protect the unimpaired exercise of this right, only minimum requirements for the 
8 
application and issuance of passports and other travel documents shall be prescribed. Action 
9 
on such application and the issuance thereof shall be expedited. 
10 
SEC. 3. Definitions. -
As used in this Act: 
11 
(a) Ambassadors refer to those who have been appOinted as chiefs of mission and have 
12 
served as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary; 
13 
(b) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Offices refer to DFA offices located in 
14 
regional hubs where consular services, including passport and authentication services, and 
15 
consular assistance are provided. They shall also include offices in Metro Manila where consular 
16 
services are provided; 


(c) Passport refers to a document issued by the Philippine government to its citizens and 
2 
requesting other governments to allow its citizens to pass safely and freely, and to provide all 
3 
lawful aid and protection if needed; 
4 
(d) Post refers to a Philippine diplomatic and consular post such as an Embassy or 
5 
Consulate; 
6 
(e) Supporting documents refer to papers or documents which are required to be 
7 
submitted with the passport application supporting claims to Filipino citizenship to complete the 
8 
application for a passport without which such application shall be deemed incomplete or 
9 
otherwise become subject to denial by the issuing authority; and 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
(f) 
Travel Document refers to a certification with the relevant personal details of the 
bearer, which is issued in lieu of a passport, by the DFA or Post based on grounds provided in 
Section 16 of this Act. 
SEC. 4. Authority to Issue, Deny or Cancel. -
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, hereinafter 
i 
referred to as Secretary, or any duly authorized consular officer assigned in th~ Philippines or at 
! 
, 
a Post may issue, deny or cancel a passport in .accordance with Sections 6, 8 and 9 of this Act. 
! 
The issuance of a passport may not be denied if the safety or welfare of a Filipino is at stake, 
unless a Travel Document is sufficient for the repatriation or return trip to th~ Philippines. The 
, 
denial or cancellation of a passport is not a mode of losing Philippine Citizenshid. 
, 
SEC. 5. Cooperation with Local Government Units (LGUs). -
The DFA sheill issue rules and 
regulations on the guidelines and mechanisms of its cooperation with L~Us on passport 
I 
services. 
i 
I 
SEC. 6. Requirements for the Issuance of Passport -
The Secretary or a duly authorized 
representative shall issue a passport to an applicant who is a Filipino citizen ~nd has complied 
, 
with .the following requirements: 
(a) A duly accomplished application form and photographs of such nuinb¢r, size and style 
as may be prescribed by the DFA; 
I 
(b) The applicant's birth certificate or the foundling certificate in securityl paper issued by 
the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) or a certified true copy (CTC) of birth icertificate issued 
, 
by the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) duly authenticated by the PSA: pro~ided, That if the 
30 
birth of the applicant has not been registered yet, or if such birth certific~te is destroyed, 
, 
! 
2 


" 
damaged, or not available due to other causes, the applicant shall apply for delayed registration 
2 
of birth with the LCRO where the applicant was born. Upon compliance with the requirements 
3 
for delayed registration of birth, the LCRO shall issue to said applicant a certification of pending 
4 
application for delayed registration of birth attaching thereto a copy of an accomplished 
5 
certificate of live birth which is the subject of delayed registration. Such certification and the 
6 
qccomplished certificate of live birth shall be sufficient to support an application for passport in 
7 
addition to other papers wrlich the DFA may require from the applicant such as certification of 
8 
no prior registration or certification of previous birth registration from the PSA; 
9 
(c) In the absence of a birth certificate or a foundling certificate, a baptismal certificate 
10 
issued by a Christian religious organization, or similar or equivalent certificate issued by a non-
11 
Christian religious group, attesting to the applicant's having been admitted to such religious 
12 
group or sect at an early age and where it is indicated that the applicant is a Filipino citizen, 
13 
which shall be accompanied by a joint affidavit by two (2) persons who have personal 
14 
knowledge of the applicant and of such age as to credibly state the applicant's date and place 
15 
of birth, citizenship and names of parents: Provided, That a Filipino who does not belong to any 
16 
religious group or sect and whose parents for any reason failed to have the said applicant 
17 
baptized shall be exempted from the baptismal certificate requirement: Provided, further, That 
18 
in lieu thereof, the applicant shall execute an affidavit to that effect duly corroborated by an 
19 
affidavit of at least two (2) persons of good reputation who personally know such fact; 
20 
(d) For a married woman who opts to adopt the surname of her husband, a local civil 
21 
registry copy of her marriage contract duly authenticated by the PSA: Provided, That a married 
22 
woman who was widowed or divorced in accordance with Article 26 of Executive Order (EO) No. 
23 
209, otherwise known as the "Family Code of the Philippines", as amended by EO No. 227, or 
24 
under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1083, otherwise known as the "Code of Muslim Personal 
25 
Laws of the Philippines", or whose marriage was annulled or declared by a court of law as VOid, 
26 
and who opts to revert to the use of her maiden name must present the death certificate of her 
27 
spouse issued by the PSA or a CTC of death certificate issued by the LCRO, duly authenticated 
28 
by the PSA or a CTC of the divorce decree, court decree of annulment or declaration of nullity 
29 
showing dissolution of marriage as recognized by Philippine courts and duly registered at the 
30 
PSA or the LCRO; 
3 


" 
(e) For a naturalized citizen, a certified copy of the naturalization certificate, or a certified 
2 
naturalization certificate of spouse or parent duly registered by the LCRO and authenticated by 
3 
the PSA if citizenship is clairned through naturalization of the spouse or the parent; 
4 
(f) For a rninor applicant, the application rnay be filed by either parent: Provided, That if a 
5 
person other than the rninor's parents files the application, a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) 
6 
duly executed by either parent rnust be presented for this purpose: Provided, further, That, in 
7 
the case of an abandoned, neglected, dependent or surrendered child, a certification declaring 
8 
the child as legally available for adoption by the Departrnent of Social Welfare and Developrnent 
9 
(DSWD) and an affidavit of consent executed by the legal guardian or the DSWD rnust be 
10 
presented; 
11 
(g) The consent of the DSWD, if the applicant is a prospective adoptive child under 
12 
Republic Act No, 8552, otherwise known as the "Dornestic Adoption Act of 1998", 
13 
If the applicant is a prospective adoptive child of a non-Filipino citizen, or a relative within 
14 
the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity under Republic Act No. 8043, otherwise 
15 
known as the "Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995", the following shall be presented: 
16 
(1) Authenticated birth certificate frorn the PSA or a foundling certificate frorn the DSWD; 
17 
(2) Placernent Authority issued by the Inter-Country Adoption Board (lCAB); and 
18 
(3) Certification issued by the DSWD; 
19 
(h) For an applicant who has reacquired Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 
20 
9225, otherwise known as the "Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003", and other 
21 
existing laws, the following shall be presented: 
22 
(1) Identification certificate issued by appropriate agencies; and 
23 
(2) Such other docurnents as rnay be necessary or required for the issuance of Philippine 
24 
passport; 
25 
(i) In case of discrepancy, the applicant's narne in the birth certificate shall prevail over 
26 
that appearing in any other public or private docurnent: Provided, however, That by operation 
27 
of law or through court ol'der, the applicant is perrnitted to use a narne other than what is 
28 
officially recorded in the PSA or the LCRO; and 
4 


(j) If the applicant is a government employee, the travel authority issued by the head of a 
2 
department, agency or office may be required only if the applicant is applying for an official 
3 
passport. 
4 
SEC. 7. Application. -
A person applying for a passport, either for the first time or for 
5 
the renewal of a previously issued passport, may be required to appear in person for photo and 
6 
data capturing. 
7 
The parent or legal guardian may assist an applicant who is a minor. 
8 
An applicant who is illiterate, physically disabled or a senior citizen may be assisted by a 
9 
relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity by anyone belonging to the 
10 
same household. 
11 
The DFA shall provide a special procedure to facilitate the passport application of illiterate, 
12 
physically disabled and senior citizens. 
13 
An applicant may also be assisted by any licensed travel or recruitment agency duly 
14 
accredited by the DFA. 
15 
In the case of a passport application filed by a recruitment or travel agency or passport-
16 
related service provider duly accredited by the DFA, the agent shall be responsible for the 
17 
authenticity of the supporting documents secured and presented by the agent to meet the 
18 
requirements for the application of passports. 
19 
The DFA shall have the right to require alternative documents as may be specified in the 
20 
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) formulated to enforce this law. 
21 
SEC. 8. Types of Passports. - The Secretary or the authorized representative or consular 
22 
officer may issue the following types of passports: 
23 
(a) Diplomatic Passports are issued to persons with diplomatic status or who are on 
24 
diplomatic mission such as: 
25 
(1) The President and former Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines; 
26 
(2) The Vice President and former Vice Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines; 
27 
(3) The Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and former 
28 
Senate Presidents and Speakers of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the 
29 
Philippines; 
5 


.' 
(4) The Chief Justice, Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and the presiding Justice of 
2 
the Court of Appeals; 
3 
(5) The Secretary, Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries of the DFA; 
4 
(6) The Members of Congress, the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of 
5 
the House of Representatives; 
6 
(7) The Secretaries of all the departments of the Executive branch; 
7 
(8) The Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines; 
8 
(9) The Chiefs of Mission, Foreign Service Officers of all ranks in the career diplomatic 
9 
service, including deSignated Attaches from the DFA and attached agencies of the government; 
10 
(10) 
The Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; 
11 
(11) The official delegates to international or regional conferences accorded full powers by 
12 
the President; and 
13 
(12) The spouses and 
unmarried minor children of the abovementioned officials when 
14 
accompanying or following to join them in an official mission abroad, 
15 
The President of the Philippines or the Secretary may grant diplomatic passports to 
16 
officials and persons other than those enumerated herein who, are on official mission abroad or 
17 
are granted full powers by the President; 
18 
(b) Official Passports are issued to all government officials and employees on official trip, 
19 
abroad but who are not on a diplomatic mission or have not been accorded diplomatic status 
20 
such as: 
21 
(1) The Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries of the cabinet other than the DFA, the 
22 
ASSOCiate Justices of the Court of Appeals a'nd other members of the Judiciary, the Deputy 
23 
Secretaries of the Senate and Deputy Secretaries General of the HOuse of Representatives, and 
24 
all other government officials and employees travelling on official time; 
25 
(2) Staff officers and employees of the DFA assigned to diplomatic and consular posts, 
26 
and officers and representatives of other government departments and agencies aSSigned 
27 
abroad; 
28 
(3) Persons in the domestic service and household members of officials assigned to 
29 
diplomatic or consular posts not exceeding two (2): Provided, That an increase in domestic 
30 
service and household members of such officials shall be approved by the Secretary; and 
6 


(4) Spouse and minor children, including unmarried children who are not minors but 
2 
dependent on the staff officers and employees of the DFA assigned to diplomatic or consular 
3 
posts and offices, and representatives of other government agencies assigned abroad, when 
4 
accompanying or following to join them; and 
5 
(c) Regular Passports are issued to Filipino citizens who are not eligible or entitled to 
6 
diplomatic or official passports, including government officials or employees gOing abroad for 
7 
pleasure or other personal reasons. Government officials and employees and members of their 
8 
families may, during their incumbency in office, hold two (2) passports simultaneously: (1) a 
9 
regular passport for private travel; and (2) a diplomatic or official passport when travelling 
10 
abroad on diplomatic or official business. The spouse and minor children of persons entitled to 
11 
diplomatic or official passports shall be issued regular passports if they are not accompanying or 
12 
following to join them. 
13 
SEC. 9. Grounds for Denial of Issuance of Passport or Cancellation of Passport. -
The 
14 
application for a passport may be denied or an existing passport may be cancelled on the 
15 
following grounds only: 
16 
(a) Denial 
17 
(1) Failure to comply with the requirements in accordance with Section 6 or violation of 
18 
the provisions of this Act; 
19 
(2) Court order to arrest or hold the departure of the passport applicant in connection 
20 
with a pending criminal case; 
21 
(3) Court order declaring the passport applicant as a fugitive from justice; 
22 
(4) Final court decision conVicting the passport applicant of a crime: Provided, That the 
23 
convict, upon release on account of completion of sentence or grant of amnesty, pardon or 
24 
probation, may apply for a passport; and 
25 
(5) Request of the parent exercising parental authority or the legal guardian of a minor 
26 
child: Provided, That a court order to withhold the issuance of a passport or to hold the 
27 
departure of the minor child shall be required if both parents exercise parental authority and' 
28 
they disagree on the issuance of a passport or travel abroad of their minor child; and 
29 
(b) Cancellation 
30 
(1) If the passport was obtained in violation of the provisions of this Act; 
7 


(2) Court order to arrest or hold the departure of the passport holder in connection with a 
2 
pending criminal case; 
3 
(3) Court order declaring the passport holder as a fugitive from justice; 
4 
(4) Final court deCision convicting the passport holder of a crime: Provided, That the 
5 
convict, upon release on account of completion of sentence or grant of amnesty, pardon or 
6 
probation, may apply for a passport; 
7 
(5) Request of the parent exercising parental authority or the legal guardian of a minor 
8 
child: Provided, That a COUlt order to cancel the passport or to hold the departure of the minor 
9 
child shall be required if both parents exercise parental authority and they disagree on the 
10 
travel abroad of their minor child; and 
11 
(6) Such other disqualifications as provided under Philippine law and jurisprudence. 
12 
SEC. 10. OFA PasspOit Review Committee (OPRC). -
The DFA motu proprio or upon 
13 
receipt of any verified complaint that necessitates cancellation or denial of passport shall 
14 
summon the passport holder who shall be given fifteen (15) working days upon receipt of the 
15 
complaint to reply and submit such proof to contravene the complaint. 
16 
A DFA Passport Review Committee (DPRC) under the Office of the Secretary is hereby 
17 
created for this purpose. 
18 
The DPRC shall also review the status of passports of Filipinos overseas who are being 
19 
investigated for alleged offenses against Filipinos. 
20 
The DFA shall issue the rules and regulations on the establishment, composition, 
21 
functions, procedures and other related details of the DPRC in accordance with this Act. 
22 
SEC. 11. Appeal. -
Any person who was aggrieved as a result of the application of this 
23 
Act or of the IRR issued by the Secretary shall have the right to appeal to the Secretary whose 
24 
decision may be reviewed by the appropriate court. 
25 
SEC. 12. Validity. -
Regular passports issued under this Act shall be valid for a period of 
26 
five (5) or ten (10) years. 
27 
The passport applicant shall have the option to apply for a five (5)-year or a ten (lO)-year 
28 
passport: Provided, That minor applicants shall be issued passports valid only for five (5) years. 
29 
SEC. 13. Ownership of Passports. 
-
A Philippine passport remains at all times the 
. 30 
property of the government, the holder being a mere possessor thereof as long as it is valid and 
8 


the same may not be surrendered to any person or entity other than the government or its 
2 
representative: 
Provided, That the passport of any Filipino citizen may be voluntarily 
3 
surrendered to any Post for storage and safekeeping for which a proper receipt shall be issued 
4 
for presentation when reclaiming the passport at a later date. 
5 
SEC. 14. Names and Titles. -
The passport shall contain the full name of the applicant, 
6 
but shall not include any title, profession or job description. 
7 
SEC. 15. Markings and Stamps. -
All passports issued by the DFA shall not contain any 
8 
marking, annotation or stamp pertaining to travel restrictions. Limitation of travel shall be 
9 
administered through travel advisories or other means which do not necessitate marking or 
10 
stamping of passports. 
11 
SEC. 16. Travel Documents. -
A Travel Document, in lieu of a passport, may be issued 
12 
to: 
13 
(a) A Filipino citizen returning to the Philippines who for one reason or another has lost a 
14 
passport or cannot be issued a regular passport; 
15 
(b) A Filipino citizen who has lost a passport while in transit to another country; 
16 
(c) A Filipino citizen being repatriated to the Philippines; 
17 
(d) An alien spouse of a Filipino and their dependents who have not been naturalized as 
18 
Filipinos and who are travelling to the Philippines or are permanent residents of the Philippines; 
19 
(e) Filipino citizens performing Umrah and Hajj; and 
20 
(f) A stateless person or refugee who is granted such status in the Philippines. 
21 
SEC. 17. Loss or Destruction. 
The loss or destruction of a passport shall be 
22 
immediately reported to the DFA or Post. The holder of such passport shall submit to the DFA 
23 
or Post an affidavit stating in detail the circumstances of such loss or destruction. The DFA shall 
24 
then furnish the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI)" 
25 
copies of the affidavit. 
26 
For those who are abroad, copies of the affidavit shall be forwarded by the Post to the 
27 
DFA Office of Consular Affairs, and which shall, in coordination with the Office of Legal Affairs, 
28 
transmit a copy of the affidavit to the NBI and the BJ. The transmittal of the affidavit shall be 
29 
accompanied by a request for the confiscation of the lost passport if found, and to investigate 
30 
or, if necessary, detain the person attempting to use or has used the passport. All Posts shall be 
9 


informed of the lost passport, including pertinent information on the passport and the 
2 
circumstances of loss. 
3 
No new passport shall be issued until satisfactory proof is shown that the passport was 
4 
actually lost and after the lapse of fifteen (15) days following the date of submission of the 
5 
affidavit of loss as herein required: Provided, however, That in the case of a passport reported 
6 
IGst by a Filipino travelling abroad, the Post may waive the fifteen (15)-day requirement if the 
7 
loss has been proven to the satisfaction of the consular officer: Provided, further, That in case 
8 
the Filipino who reported a loss of passport is returning to the Philippines, the holder may be 
9 
issued a Travel Document. 
10 
In all cases, the fifteen (15)-day rule may be waived at the discretion of the head of the 
11 
Office of Consular Affairs or' the head of the Consular Section or the Consul General of a Post. 
12 
SEC. 18. Fees. 
-
Reasonable fees shall be collected for the processing, issuance, or 
13 
amendment of an existing passport or replacement of a lost passport and the issuance of a 
14 
Travel Document as may be determined by the DFA. The DFA shall prescribe the necessary fees 
15 
for passports with five (5)-year and ten (10)-year validities. 
16 
SEC. 19. Passport Revolving Fund. -
The DFA may charge a service fee of not more than 
17 
Two hundred fifty pesos (Php250.00) for such service rendered to applicants relating to the 
18 
processing and issuance of passports requiring special consideration, waiver or issuance beyond 
19 
regular office hours. The service fees received by the DFA under this section shall constitute a 
20 
revolving fund to be called the "Passport Revolving Fund" which may be utilized by the DFA for 
21 
the improvement of its passport issuance, consular and other services except travel and 
22 
transportation allowances and expenses. 
23 
The establishment, use and disbursement of the revolving fund shall be subject to the 
24 
review by the Commission On Audit and according to accounting and auditing rules and 
25 
regulations, and shall be subject to an annual review by Congress. The Secretary shall submit a 
26 
report on the disbursement of the fund every six (6) months to both the Senate Committee on 
27 
Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. 
28 
SEC. 20. Waiver. - The Secretary is solely authorized to waive any requirement set forth 
29 
in Section 6 of this Act. 
10 


SEC. 21. Offenses and Penalties. -
A passport, being a proclamation of the citizenship of 
2 
a Filipino, is superior to all other official documents and as such, shall be accorded the highest 
3 
respect by its holder. Any act prejudicial to its integrity is a grave crime against the security of 
4 
the State and shall be penalized accordingly: 
5 
(a) Offenses Relating to Issuance; Penalties. -
Any person who: 
6 
(1) Acting or claiming to act in any capacity or office under the Republic of the Philippines 
7 
without lawful authority, accepts passport applications, grants, issues or verifies any passport or 
8 
Travel Document to any or for any person Whomsoever, or is caught selling in Whatever 
9 
capacity passport application forms, or lost or stolen passports and travel documents shall be 
10 
punished by a fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos 
(Php15,OOO.OO) but not 
II 
more than Sixty thousand pesos (Php60,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) 
12 
years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years; or 
13 
(2) Being a diplomatic: or consular official authorized to grant, issue, or verify passports, 
14 
knowingly and willfully grants, issues, or verifies any such passport to any or for any person not 
15 
owing allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines, whether citizen or not, shall be punished by 
16 
a fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos (Php15,OOO.OO) but not more than Sixty thousand 
17 
. pesos (Php60,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not 
18 
more than twelve (12) years and, upon conviction, be perpetually disqualified from holding 
19 
public office; or 
20 
(3) Being a diplomatic or consular officer, knowingly and willfully grants and issues to, 
21 
certifies to the authenticity of any passport or Travel Document for any person not entitled. 
22 
thereto, or knowingly and willfully issues more than one (1) passport to any person except as 
23 
provided for in this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos 
24 
(Php15,OOO.OO) but not more than Sixty thousand pesos (Php60,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of 
25 
not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years and, upon 
26 
conviction, be disqualified perpetually from holding public office; or 
27 
(4) Acting or claiming to act in any capacity, with the intention to profit thereby, intercepts 
28 
a person proceeding to the DFA or any of its consular offices to apply for a passport, and 
29 
persuades, entices, encourages or misleads such applicant to course the application through 
30 
another person or agency other than the DFA or its personnel on the pretext of facilitating its 
11 


approval or issuance by the DFA shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than eighteen 
2 
(18) months but not more than six (6) years; 
3 
(b) Offenses Relating to False Statements; Penalties. -
Any person who willfully and 
4 
knowingly: 
5 
(1) Makes any false statement in any application for passport with the intent to induce or 
6 
secure the issuance of a passport under the authority of the Philippine government, for any 
7 
purpose, contrary to this act or rules and regulations prescribed pursuant hereto shall be 
8 
punished by a fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos (Php15,OOO.OO) but not more than 
9 
Sixty thousand pesos (Php60,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one 
10 
(1) day but not more than twelve (12) years; or 
11 
(2) Uses or attempts to use any passport which was secured in any way by reason of any 
12 
false statement shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos 
13 
(Php15,OOO.OO) but not more than Sixty thousand pesos (Php60,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of 
14 
not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years; or 
15 
(3) In addition to the abovementioned fines and penalties, travel and recruitment 
16 
agencies and passport-related service providers, agents, liaison officers or representatives 
17 
convicted of offenses relating to false statements shall have their license revoked with all 
18 
deposits, escrow accounts or guarantee funds deposited or made as requirement of their 
19 
business forfeited in favor of the government. An officer of the travel or recruitment agency 
20 
convicted for false statements shall be barred from engaging in the travel or recruitment agency 
21 
business; 
22 
(c) Offenses Relating to Forgery; Penalties. -
Any person who: 
23 
(1) Falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, mutilates or alters any passport or Travel 
24 
Document or DFA stamps, or any supporting document for a passport application, with the 
25 
intent of using the same, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Seventy-five thousand 
26 
pesos (Php75,OOO.OO) but not more than One hundred fifty thousand pesos (Php150,OOO.OO) 
27 
and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than fifteen (15) years. The 
28 
possession of the documents herein mentioned shall be prima facie evidence of commission of 
29 
the acts enumerated herein and the intent to use the same; or 
12 


(2) Willfully or knowingly uses or attempts to use, or furnishes to another for use any such 
2 
false, forged, counterfeited, mutilated or altered passport or Travel Document or any passport 
3 
validly issued which has become void by the occurrence of any condition herein prescribed shall 
4 
be punished by a fine of not less than Sixty thousand pesos (Php60,OOO.OO) but not more than 
5 
One hundred fifty thousand pesos (Php150,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) 
6 
years but not more than fifteen (15) years. The officers of corporations, agencies or entities 
7 
licensed in the travel and recruitment industry shall be held similarly liable as their agents, 
8 
liaison officers or representatives. Forgeries of five (5) or more passports or travel documents 
9 
shall be considered as massive forgery tantamount to national sabotClge and shall be punished 
JO 
by a fine of not less than Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (Php250,OOO.OO) but not more than 
11 
One million pesos (Phpl,OOO,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than seven (7) years but not 
12 
more than seventeen (17) years; 
13 
(d) Offenses Relating to Improper Use; Penalties. 
-
A fine of not less than Sixty 
14 
thousand pesos (Php60,OOO.OO) but not more than One hundred fifty thousand pesos 
15 
(Php150,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than fifteen (15) 
16 
years shall be imposed upon any person who willfully and knowingly: 
17 
(1) Uses or attempts to use any passport issued or designed for the use of another or any 
18 
supporting document for a passport application which belongs to another; or 
19 
(2) Uses or attempts to use any passport or supporting document in violation of tile 
20 
conditions or restrictions therein contained, or of the rules prescribed pursuant thereto; or 
21 
(3) Furnishes, disposes or delivers a passport to any person other than to that in whose 
22 
name and for whose use it was issued, except'when the applicant is a minor, a senior citizen or 
23 
physically or mentally incapacitated and the passport is released to the parent, guardian or 
24 
immediate relative: Provided, That in case of an emergency and for humanitarian reasons, at 
25. 
the discretion of the head of the Office of Consular Affairs or the head of the Consular Section 
26 
or the Consul General of a Post, the passport may be released to a third party upon the 
27 
submission of a written authorization from the applicant; or 
28 
(4) Defaces or destroys a Philippine passport; 
29 
(e) Offenses Relating to Multiple possession; Penalties. -
No person or individual may 
30 
hold more than one (1) valid passport, except as provided for in Section 8 hereof, and any 
13 


individual who possesses more than one (1) unexpired passport shall, for every unexpired 
2 
passport found in his possession, be punished by a fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos 
3 
(Php15,000.00) but not more than Sixty thousand pesos (Php60,000.00) and imprisonment of 
4 
not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years: Provided, That 
5 
the maximum fine and imprisonment shall be imposed by the court for any attempt to use or 
6 
the actual use of an unexpired passport which is not in the name of the user. 
7 
In case any of the offenses prohibited in this Act constitutes a violation of the Revised 
8 
Penal Code and the penalty imposed in the said Code is heavier than that provided in this Act, 
9 
the latter penalty shall be imposed; 
10 
(f) Offenses Relating to Forgery of Visas and Entry Documents; Penalties. -
A fine of not 
11 
less than Fifteen thousand pesos (Php15,000.00) but not more than Sixty thousand pesos 
12 
(Php60,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than three (3) years but not more than ten (10) 
13 
years shall be imposed upon any person who: 
14 
(1) Knowingly forges, counterfeits, alters or falsely makes any immigrant or nonimmigrant 
15 
visa, permit, border crossing card, alien registration card or other document prescribed by 
16 
statute or regulation for entry into or as evidence of authorized stay or employment in the 
17 
Philippines or elsewhere with the intent of using the same; or 
18 
(2) Knowingly uses, attempts to use, possesses, obtains, accepts or receives any such 
19 
visa, permit, border crossing card, alien registration card or other document prescribed by 
20 
statute or regulation for entry into or as evidence of authorized stay or employment in the 
21 
Philippines or elsewhere, knowing it to be forged, counterfeited, altered or falsely made, or to 
22 
have been procured by means of any false claim or statement, or to have been otherwise 
23 
procured by fraud or unlawfully obtained: Provided, That the use of forged, counterfeited, 
24 
altered or falsely made visa, permit, border crossing card, alien registration card or other entry 
25 
document shall be prima facie evidence of knowledge; or 
26 
(3) Knowingly possesses any blank permit or engraves, sells, brings into the Philippines, or 
27 
has the control or possession in any plate in the likeness of a plate designed for the printing of' 
28 
permits, or makes any print, photograph or impression in the likeness of any immigrant or 
29 
nonimmigrant visa, perm it or other document required for entry into the Philippines or 
30 
elsewhere, or has the possession of a distinctive paper which has been adopted by the DFA for 
14 


the printing of such visas, permits or other documents: Provided, That the person who forges, 
2 
counterfeits, alters or falsely makes any immigrant or 
nonimmigrant visa, permit, 
3 
border crossing card, alien registration card or other entry document shall be punished by a fine 
4 
of not less than Sixty thousand pesos (Php60,000.00) but not more than One hundred fifty 
5 
thousand pesos (Php150,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more 
6 
than fifteen (15) years for each visa or entry document. 
7 
The fines and penalties provided for under this section shall be imposed in their maximum 
8 
when said acts are committed by a syndicate or in large scale operation. Any unlawful act 
9 
under this section is committed by a syndicate if carried out by a group of three (3) or more 
10 
persons conspiring and confederating with one another. Such acts are committed in large scale 
11 
if committed against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group. 
12 
SEC. 22. Suspension or Revocation of Accreditation. 
-
Travel or recruitment agencies 
13 
and other passport-related service providers are allowed the privilege to transact business with 
14 
the DFA on the basis of trust and confidence. For the exercise of this privilege, the passport 
15 
service providers shall be required to secure accreditation from the DFA. 
16 
Any travel or recruitment agency and other passport service providers that violate any 
17 
provision of this Act shall have its accreditation suspended or revoked in accordance with the 
18 
schedule of administrative penalties to be formulated by the DFA. 
Any such suspension or 
19 
revocation of accreditation shall be without prejudice to civil or criminal sanctions against the 
20 
agency, its officers, agents and employees. 
21 
The submission of spurious, forged or falsified documents supporting a passport 
22 
application by any duly accredited travel or recruitment agency or other passport service 
23 
providers shall be prima facie evidence that the said travel or recruitment agency is the author 
24 
of such forgery or falsification: Provided, That the spurious, forged or falsified document 
25 
submitted was secured by the travel or recruitment agency or other relevant passport service 
26 
providers on behalf of its client. 
27 
SEC. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -
The Secretary shall issue the necessary 
28 
implementing rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) 
29 
days from the date of effectivity of this Act without extension or delay. 
15 


• 
SEC. 24. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 8239 is hereby repealed. All other laws or 
2 
parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
3 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
4 
SEC. 25. Separability Clause. -
If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or 
5 
invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
6 
SEC. 26. Effectivity. _. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
7 
the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general Circulation. 
Approved, 
16