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Philippines suspends issuance of hajj passports
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In this photo provided by the Bureau of Immigration, Indonesians carrying Philippine passports wait after being intercepted by immigration authorities on Aug. 19 at Manila's airport, before boarding their flight for Saudi Arabia to participate in a hajj pilgrimage. Officials said the 177 Indonesian passengers' identities were revealed because they could not speak any Philippine language or dialect and could only converse in English. (Bureau of Immigration via AP/-)
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oreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. announced on Tuesday the suspension of the issuance of hajj passports following interception of 177 Indonesians last August 19 using fake Philippine passports.
According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Charles Jose, the secretary will be seeking the permanent suspension of the passports which require the “barest” requirements to acquire.
These are special travel documents specifically issued for the pilgrimage to Mecca and are different from regular passports.
Jose said that Yasay made the announcement during the budget hearing on Tuesday at the House of Representatives.
The DFA spokesperson said in a text message that the suspension of the hajj passport is “precisely in response to the case of 177 Indonesians using Philippine passports.”
He further said, “The suspension is temporary but the secretary of foreign affairs is contemplating to make it permanent through legislation.”
The department is conducting its own probe on the interception of 177 Saudi Arabia-bound “fake Filipinos” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Initial information received by the department found the foreigners carrying hajj passports, which are issued to Filipino pilgrims to Mecca. The Indonesians, agency officials said, could have resorted to getting Philippine passports using fake documents because they can no longer be accommodated in their country’s pilgrimage quota.
