Tiangco: DFA lawyering for prime suspect in infra mess
Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco on Friday questioned why the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has still not canceled the passport of resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, even alleging that the agency seems to be defending him and standing as his “lawyer.”
Tiangco said this at a press briefing on Friday, after meeting with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure amid the commission’s investigation on the alleged anomalies in infrastructure projects across the country.
The lawmaker underscored that the DFA has the power to cancel the passport of Co.
“They have the power to cancel the passport. Now, what I don’t understand is why it seems like DFA or other government officials are still defending Zaldy Co on why the passport can’t be canceled? Cancel it, then let his lawyer question the cancellation in court,” Tiangco said.
On Oct. 9, the DFA said that based on the New Philippine Passport Act, it “may cancel a Philippine passport only upon the issuance of a court order when the holder is a fugitive from justice or convicted of a criminal offense; or when there is proof that a passport was acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously.”
Following a process
Meanwhile, Tiangco mentioned that, according to Republic Act No. 11983, or the New Philippine Passport Act, Section 4, one of the grounds for the cancellation of a passport is “national security.”
Meanwhile, following Tiangco’s statement this Friday, the DFA released a statement, maintaining its stance that “there is a process for cancellation of passports.”
The agency also reiterated its previous statement that, based on the New Philippine Passport Act, it may cancel a Philippine passport “only upon the issuance of a court order when the holder is a fugitive from justice or convicted of a criminal offense; or when there is proof that a passport was acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously.”
Co is currently being sought for his alleged involvement in anomalous infrastructure projects across the country, specifically for the supposed irregularities in flood control projects linked to his company, Sunwest Inc.
