DFA: We’re not ‘lawyering’ for Zaldy Co
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday took exception to the remarks of Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, accusing the agency of “lawyering” for former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co by not canceling his passport.
The DFA noted that the Republic Act No. 11983, or the new passport law, states that the agency could cancel or revoke passport only in certain instances including when there is an order from the court once the holder has been convicted of a criminal offense or is a fugitive from justice.
“This process is governed by established legal criteria and is not subject to arbitrary or political considerations,” the DFA said in a statement.
“Our respect for the constitutional guarantee of due process and the rule of law cannot be rewritten on a whim—the government cannot simply play ‘gotcha’ with passports,” it added.
Tiangco, however, said that the DFA has the power to cancel Co’s passport if Section 4 of the RA No. 11983 pertaining to “national security,” would be invoked.
“Isn’t that a national security issue? Isn’t that situation fall under it?” he said, noting that people are now “very angry” which could lead to the destabilization of the government.
“Why does it seem like they are lawyering for him? There is a legal process,” Tiangco also said.
Differing takeaways
However, the DFA said Tiangco’s accusation of the agency’s “lawyering” for Co “reflects a misunderstanding of the legal standards governing passport cancellation.”
“If Congressman Tiangco has genuine concerns and substantive evidence, he should seek judicial relief, rather than indulge in baseless accusations,” the DFA said. “Upholding the rule of law, not rhetoric, must remain the compass of public service.”
Co was accused of receiving billions of pesos in kickbacks from contractors and the Department of Public Works and Highways officials who testified in congressional inquiries into flood control projects. He vehemently denied the allegations.
Co is still out of the country and resigned from the House of Representatives due to what he thinks is a “real, direct, grave and imminent threat” to himself and “the lives of my family members.”
The multibillion peso corruption scandal involving flood control projects caused widespread protests and campus walkouts since Sept. 21, as well as rumors of a coup, which was denied by the military.
