House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon emphasized that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cannot unilaterally cancel any citizen’s passport without a court order, not even those belonging to former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co or former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
“No one is exempt from the law, whether it’s Zaldy Co or Harry Roque; the DFA cannot cancel a passport without a court order,” Ridon said in a statement.
He added, “There is no such authority in the Constitution or the Passport Act.”
Ridon’s statement came after Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco urged the DFA to revoke Co’s passport despite the absence of a court case against him.
“To process the cancellation of their passports, the proper procedure under the Passport Act must be followed, file a case against Zaldy Co, and enforce the arrest warrant against Harry Roque,” Ridon said.