EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
6 6399

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to Republic Act 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, “The people's
constitutional right to travel is inviolable. Accordingly, the government has the duty to issue
Passport or any travel document to any citizen of the Philippines or individual who complies
with the requirement of this Act. The right to travel may be impaired only when national
security, public safety, or public health 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. Action on such application and
the issuance shall be expedited”.

Since its passage, there have been laws passed which affect the passport process such as
RA 8582, otherwise known as the "Domestic Adoption Act of 1998", RA 9226, also known
as the "Citizenship and Reacquisition Act of 2003, and RA 11055 or the "Philippine
Identification System Act ". This bill aims to update and reflect current laws that affect the
process of issuing passports.

This measure also simplifies the passport documentation requirements by requiring the
submission of specific documents; revises the list of persons entitled to diplomatic and
official passports; provides for the issuance of passports with 5-yr or 10-year validity;
creates a committee to process and adjudicate complaints and imposes stiffer penalties
against the persons who use or conspire and connive with others to use fraudulent
passports

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.

a4 RODRK


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
6399

House Bill No.

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:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be called the “Philippine Passport Act.”

SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. - The people's constitutional right to travel is
inviolable. Accordingly, the government has the duty to issue passports using tamper proof
and latest data management technology as much as practicable or any travel document to
any citizen of the Philippines or individual who complies with the requirements of this Act
The right to travel may be impaired only when national security, public safety, or public
health requires. To enhance and protect the unimpaired exercise of this right, only
minimum requirements for application and issuance of passports and other travel
documents shall be prescribed. The govemment shall ensure that action on such
applications and the issuance of passports shall be done expeditiously

SEC. 3 Definitions of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(a) _ Ambassadors refer to those who have been appointed as chiefs of
mission and have served as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary;

(b) Consular Offices refer to field offices of the DFA Office of Consular Affairs
located in the Philippines where consular services, including passport and authentication
services, and consular assistance are provided;

(©) DFArefers to the Department of Foreign Affairs;

(4) Foreign Service Post (FSP) refers to a Philippine diplomatic and consular
post such as an Embassy or Consulate;

(e) Large scale refers to the commission of any of the offenses under this Act
against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group;

(f) Passport refers to a document issued by the Philippine government to its
citizens requesting other governments to allow its citizens to pass safely and freely, and to
provide all lawful aid and protection, if needed;

(9) Refugee refers to someone who has been forced to flee his or her country
because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution
for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social
group;

(h) Secretary refers to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs;

() __ Stateless person refers to an individual who is not considered a citizen or
national under the operation of the laws of any country;

(i) Supporting Documents refer to papers or documents which are required to be
submitted with the passport application supporting claims to Filipino citizenship and proof of
identity to complete the application for a passport without which such application shall be
deemed incomplete or otherwise become subject to denial by the issuing authority.


The same may refer to papers or documents submitted in support of applications for
travel documents;

(k) Syndicate refers to a group of three (3) or more persons conspiring with one
another, and

() Terrorist act refers to any act intended to cause death or serious bodily injury
to a civilian or civilians, when the purpose of such act, by its nature or context, is to
intimidate a population or to compel a government or an international organization to do or to
abstain from doing any act, as defined by existing laws; and

(m) Travel document refers to a form of identification, compliant to current
Intemational Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, that the Philippine govemment
issues to its citizens or recognized residents so they can cross international borders;

SEC. 4. Authority to Issue, Deny, Restrict, or Revoke. — Upon the application of
any qualified Filipino citizen, the Secretary or any duly authorized consular officer may issue
passports in accordance with this Act.

Philippine consular officers in a foreign country shall be authorized by the Secretary
to issue, verify, restrict, revoke or deny a passport in the area of jurisdiction of the Foreign
Service Post in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

In the interest of national security, public safety and public health, the Secretary or
any of the authorized consular officers may, after due hearing and in their proper discretion,
deny issuance of a passport, or restrict its use or withdraw or revoke a passport: Provided,
however, That such act shall not mean a loss or doubt on the person's
citizenship: Provided, further, That the issuance of a passport may not be denied if the
safety and interest of the Filipino citizen is at stake: Provided, finally, That refusal or
revocation of a passport would not prevent the issuance of a Travel Document to allow for a
safe retum journey by a Filipino to the Philippines

SEC.5. Requirements for the Issuance of a Passport. — The Secretary, or a duly
authorized consular officer, shall issue a passport to an applicant who is a Filipino citizen
and who has complied with the following requirements:

(2) A duly accomplished application form;

(b) Proof of citizenship which shall follow the documents prescribed by relevant
laws regarding the acquisition of Philippine citizenship which include, but are not limited to:

(1) Birth Certificate or Report of Birth, whichever is applicable, for natural bom
citizens;

(2) Naturalization Certificate for Naturalized citizens;

(3) Election Certificate for those who are required to elect Filipino citizenship;
or

(4) Identification Certificate and/or Oath of Allegiance and Order of Approval

of Re-acquisition or Retention of Philippine citizenship under RA No. 9225;

(©) Valid and sufficient proof of identity;

(d) Marriage Certificate or Report of Marriage for a married woman who wishes to
use her husband’s sumame;

e) Duly annotated Marriage Certificate or Report of Marriage of a woman who
wishes to revert to the use of her maiden name by virtue of an annulment, separation, or a
judicially-recognized divorce;

f) __Anaffidavit of consent from a parent of a minor. If the minor is travelling with a
person other than the parent, a clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and
Development is likewise required;

(g) If the applicant is an adopted person, the following documents need to be
submitted:

(1) certified copy of the court decree of adoption;

(2) original birth certificate; and

(3) amended birth certificate reflecting the name that the adopted person will
use;


(g) In the case of discrepancy between the applicant's details in the birth certificate
and in any other documents presented, the applicant shall be required to make the
necessary corrections to the discrepant information prior to the application being accepted
for processing;

(h) A travel authority, issued by the head of the department, agency, or office if the
applicant is a goverment employee seeking to apply for an official passport;

The Department is mandated to ensure the integrity of the passport at all times. As
such, the Secretary or his duly authorized representative may require the applicant to
provide additional documents until the latter adequately establishes citizenship and
identity

SEC. 6. Application. — A person applying for a passport, either for the first time or for
the renewal of a previously issued passport, shall be required to appear in person for photo
and data capturing

The parent or legal guardian shall assist an applicant who is a minor.

An applicant who is unable to read or write, persons with disability or a senior citizen
may be assisted by a relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or by
the applicant's travelling companion.

The DFA may require other or additional documents as may be specified in the rules
and regulations promulgated for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Types of Passports. - The Secretary or the authorized consular officer may
issue the following types of passports:

(2) _ Diplomatic Passports are issued to persons with diplomatic status or
who are on diplomatic mission such as:

(1) The President and former Presidents of the Philippines;

(2) The Vice President and former Vice Presidents of the Philippines;

(3) The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and former Presidents of the Senate and Speakers of the House of
Representatives;

(4) The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and
the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals, and the Sandiganbayan;

(5) The Secretary, Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries of the
DFA;

(6) The Members of Congress, the Secretary of the Senate and the
Secretary General of the House of Representatives;

(7) The Secretaries of all the departments of the Executive branch;

(8) _ The Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the
Philippines; Chiefs of Mission, and Foreign Service Officers of all ranks in the career
diplomatic ‘service, including designated attachés from the DFA and agencies of the
government;

(9) The Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas;

(10) The Official delegates to international or regional conferences accorded full
powers by the President; and

(11) The spouses and unmarried minor children of the abovementioned officials
when accompanying or following to join them in an official mission abroad

The President of the Philippines or the Secretary may grant diplomatic passports to
officials and persons other than those enumerated herein who are on official mission abroad
or are granted full powers by the President;

b) —_ Official passports are issued to all government officials and employees on
official trip abroad but who are not on a diplomatic mission or have not been accorded
diplomatic status, such as:

(1) The Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries of the Cabinet other than the
DFA, the Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan other


members of the Judiciary, and all other government officials and employees travelling on
official time;

(2) Staff officers and employees of the DFA assigned to diplomatic and consular
posts, and officers and representatives of other government departments and agencies
assigned abroad;

(3) Persons in the domestic service and household members of officials assigned
to diplomatic or consular posts not exceeding two (2): Provided, That an increase in
domestic service and household members of such officials shall be approved by the
Secretary; and

(4) Spouse and minor children, including unmarried children who are not minors
but dependent on the staff officers and employees of the DFA assigned to diplomatic or
consular posts and offices, and representatives of other goverment agencies assigned
abroad, when accompanying or following to join them.

Diplomatic and official passports shall be submitted for revalidation before each
departure of the holder.

c) _ Regular passports are issued to Filipino citizens who are not eligible or
entitled to diplomatic or official passports, including government officials or employees
going abroad for pleasure or other personal reasons. Government officials and employees
and members of their families may, during their incumbency in office, hold two (2)
passports simultaneously: (1) a regular passport for private travel; and (2) a diplomatic or
official passport when travelling abroad on diplomatic or official business. The spouse and
minor children of persons entitled to diplomatic or official passports shall be issued regular
passports if they are not accompanying or following to join them.

SEC. 8 Grounds for Denial of Issuance of Passport or Revocation of Passport.
~The application for a passport may be denied or an existing passport may be revoked on
the following grounds only:

a) Denial

(1) Failure of the applicant to comply with the requirements in accordance with
this Act;

(2) The issuance by a court of warrant of arrest against the applicant or an order
to prohibit the applicant's departure from the Philippines in connection with a pending
criminal action;

(3) Upon the request of the parent or guardian exercising parental authority over the
minor applying for the issuance of a passport; Provided, that a court order to withhold the
issuance of a passport or to prevent the departure of the minor child shall be required if both
parents exercise parental authority and they disagree on the issuance of a passport or travel
abroad of their minor child;

(4) When the applicant has been found to have violated any of the provisions of this
Act;

(5) Upon the determination by the Secretary or duly authorized representatives
or consular officer that a passport was secured through fraud or misrepresentation, or
that it has been tampered with subsequent to its release or issuance to its holder;

(6) When there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant intends to
travel abroad to commit, plan, prepare, or participate in a terrorist act or to be trained to
commit, plan, prepare, or participate in a terrorist act; and

(7) Such other disqualifications under existing laws.

b) Revocation

(1) The passport was obtained in violation of the provisions of this Act;

(2) _ Upon the request of the parent or guardian exercising parental authority over
the minor passport holder; Provided, that a court order to revoke the passport or to prevent
the departure of the minor child shall be required if both parents exercise parental authority
and they disagree on the issuance of a passport or travel abroad of their minor child;

(3) The issuance by a court of an order to revoke the passport in connection with a
pending criminal action;


(4) Court order declaring the passport holder as a fugitive from justice;

(5) The passport holder has been convicted of a crime by final judgment;
Provided, that, upon release on account of service of sentence or grant of pardon, one
who has been previously convicted may apply for a passport; and

(6) Such other grounds as may be provided by other laws.

SEC. 9 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.

SEC. 10. Validity. — Regular passports issued under this Act shall be valid for a period
of five (5) or ten (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, further,
That in the interest of national security, political stability, public safety or law enforcement, or
in cases of incomplete or insufficient documentation, where the safety or well-being of the
applicant and/or his/her family is at risk, the issuing authority may issue a passport with a
limited period of validity of less than ten (10) years.

SEC. 11. Ownership of Passports. — A Philippine passport remains at all times the
property of the government, the holder being a mere possessor thereof for the duration of
the passport’s validity and the same may not be surrendered to any entity or person other
than the government or its duly authorized representative: Provided, That a passport may
be voluntarily surrendered to any Post for storage and safekeeping, for which a proper
receipt shall be issued for presentation when reclaiming the passport.

SEC. 12. Names and Titles. - Passports shall contain the full name of the applicant,
but shall not include any title, profession or job description.

SEC. 13. Markings and Stamps. - Passports shall not contain any marking,
annotation or stamp pertaining to travel restrictions. Limitation of travel shall be administered
through travel advisories or other means which do not necessitate marking or stamping of
passports.

SEC. 14. Travel Documents. - A Travel Document, in lieu of a passport, may be
issued to the following:
(a) A Filipino citizen overseas who, for one reason or another, has lost an issued
Passport or cannot be issued a regular passport;

(b) A Filipino citizen being repatriated to the Philippines;

(©)___ A Filipino citizen in the Philippines who has an urgent need to travel abroad
and cannot be issued a regular passport;

(@) An alien spouse of a Filipino and their dependents who have not yet been
naturalized as Filipinos and who are travelling to the Philippines or are permanent residents
of the Philippines;

(©) Aliens permanently residing in the Philippines who are not able to obtain
foreign passport and other travel documents; and

() A stateless person who is likewise a permanent resident or a refugee
granted such status or asylum in the Philippines.

‘A Travel Document shall be valid for one (1) year.

SEC. 15. _Loss or Destruction of a Passport - The loss or destruction of a passport
shall be immediately reported to the DFA or a Foreign Service Post. The holder of such
Passport shall submit an affidavit stating in detail the circumstances of such loss or
destruction. For purposes of this Act, a lost passport is one whose whereabouts is unknown
to the applicant despite diligent search, or if known, may not be retrieved, recovered and
produced by the applicant for reasons beyond the applicant's control.


The DFA shall suspend the issuance of passport to any person applying for passport
a third time within a period of three (3) years due to the loss of previously issued passports
and conduct an investigation into the circumstances of the supposed lost of passports.

Should the DFA find that the applicant made false claims or deliberately withheld
information about the loss of his/her passport or passports, the applicant shall be held liable
under Section 19(b) of this Act.

SEC. 16. Fees. — Reasonable fees, as may be determined by the Secretary, shall be
collected for the processing, issuance, or replacement of a passport or a Travel Document.

SEC. 17. Passport Revolving Fund. - The DFA may charge a service fee of no less
than 25% of the current fees, or the current expedite fees, whichever is higher, as
determined in Section 16 for services rendered to applicants relating to the
processing or issuance of passports requiring special consideration, waiver or
issuance beyond regular office hours. The service fees received by the DFA under this
section shall constitute a revolving fund to be called the “Passport Revolving Fund” which
may be utilized by the DFA primarily for the improvement of its passporting and consular
services and other DFA services except travel and transportation allowances and expenses.

SEC. 18. Waiver. — The Secretary is solely authorized to waive any requirement set
forth in Section 5 of this Act, as well as the fees for the processing or issuance of passports
and Travel Documents contained in Section 16 of this Act.

SEC.19. Offenses and Penalties. - A passport, being a proclamation of the
citizenship of a Filipino, is superior to all other official documents and as such, shall be
accorded the highest respect by its holder. Any act prejudicial to its integrity is a grave
crime against the security of the State and shall be penalized accordingly:

a) Offenses Relating to Issuances; Penalties. — Any person who:

(1) Acting or claiming to act in any capacity or office under the Republic
of the Philippines without lawful authority, accepts passport applications, grants, issues or
verifies any passport or travel document to any or for any person whomsoever, or is
caught selling in whatever capacity passport application forms, or lost or stolen passports
and travel documents shall 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; or

(2) 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,
shall 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 and, upon conviction, be
Perpetually disqualified from holding public office; or

(3) Being a diplomatic or consular officer, knowingly and willfully grants,
issues, or certifies to the authenticity of any passport or Travel Document for any person not
entitled thereto, or knowingly and willfully issues more than one (1) passport to any person
except as provided for in this Act, shall 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 and, upon conviction, be disqualified perpetually from holding public office; or

(4) Acting or claiming to act in any capacity, with the intention to profit thereby,
intercepts a person proceeding to the DFA or any of its consular offices or Foreign
Service Posts to apply for a passport, and persuades, entices, encourages or misleads
such applicant to course the application through another person or agency other than
the DFA or its personnel on the pretext of facilitating its approval or issuance by the DFA


shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than eighteen (18) months but not more than
six (6) years;

(5) Being neither a diplomatic or consular official, nor an employee authorized to
grant, issue, or verify any passport or travel document to or for any person, and even though
not claiming to be such, offers, for any material gain or consideration, to escort a passport
applicant, or assist the same in booking an appointment, filling out an application form,
making payments, handling application documents, or any other action relating to passport
application.

b) Offenses Relating to False Statements; Penalties. - Any person who
willfully 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 shall 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; or

(2) Makes any false statement in an Affidavit declaring a passport as lost while
knowing its actual whereabouts or not exerting diligent effort to retrieve, recover and produce
the same, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifteen Thousand Pesos
(Php15,000.00) but not more than Sixty Thousand Pesos (Php 60,000.00) and imprisonment
of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years; or

(3) Uses or attempts to use any passport which was secured in any way by reason of
any false statement shall 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; or

©) Offenses Relating to Forgery; Penalties. — Any person who

(1) Falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, mutilates or alters any passport or Travel
Document or any supporting document for a passport application, with the intent of
using the same, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Seventy-Five Thousand Pesos
(PhpP75,000.00) 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. The
possession of the documents herein mentioned shall be prima facie evidence of commission
of the acts enumerated herein and the intent to use the same; or

(2) Willfully or knowingly uses or attempts to use, or fumishes to another for
use any such false, forged, counterfeited, mutilated or altered passport or travel
document or any passport validly issued which has become void by the occurrence of any
condition herein prescribed 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.

d) Offenses Relating to Improper Use of Passports and Travel Documents;
Penalties. — 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
(©) years but not more than fifteen (15) years shall be imposed upon any person who willfully
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) _ Fumishes, disposes or delivers a passport to any 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 an emergency and for
humanitarian reasons, at the discretion of the head of the Office of Consular Affairs or the


head of the Consular Section or the Consul-General of a 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 currency 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,

) Offenses Relating to Multiple Possession; 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 his 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 the actual use of an unexpired passport
which is not in the name of the user.

In case any of the offenses prohibited in this Act constitutes a violation of the
Revised Penal Code and the penalty imposed therein is heavier than that provided in this
Act, the latter penalty shall be imposed;

f) Offenses Relating to Forgery of Visas and Entry Documents; 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 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, accepts 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 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 other entry document shall be prima facie evidence of knowledge of its
forgery, counterfeiting, alteration, or falseness; 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 has the 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, counterfeits, alters or falsely 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
(Php60,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php150,000.00)
and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than fifteen (15) years for each
visa or entry document.

(g) The penalties provided for under this Section shall be imposed in their
maximum when the offenses are committed by a syndicate or in a large scale.


SEC.20. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary shall issue the
rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of and carry put the policy
set forth in this Act within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 21. _ Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 8239, otherwise known as the
Philippine Passport Act of 1996, is hereby repealed. Alll other laws, decrees, orders, rules
and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC.22.  Separability Clause. — if any part or provision of this Act is deciared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or parts not affected shall remain in full force
and effect.

SEC.23. __Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,