source: manila bulletin
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clarified Monday that the travel document supposedly used by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson are still with its property division and have not been sent out to any particular Philippine post.
In a letter addressed to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima dated March 31, 2011, the DFA also pointed out that the Philippine Consulates General in Hong Kong, Macau, Xiamen, and Guangzhou had denied issuing a travel document to Lacson who returned last March 26 via a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong after more than a year living as a fugitive.
“The said posts have also reported that Travel Document No. 34258 is not within the series of Philippine Travel Documents issued to them,” the DFA stated in the letter that hopes to clarify media reports on the alleged issuance of travel documents to the then fugitive senator by a Philippine consulate general.
This information was issued only after persistent requests were made by the members of the Diplomatic Press Corps about the status of the queries on the questionable travel documents used by Lacson.
Because of this, a ranking diplomatic official expressed his dismay over the apparent slow resolution of various issues brought to the DFA’s attention, including the one involving Lacson.
The official further questioned the move of the DFA to single out four consulates – Hong Kong, Macau, Xiamen, and Guangzhou – with regards to the issuance of travel documents, considering that there are hundreds of Philippine consulates abroad that issue such papers.
Last August, or more than six months after a Manila court issued a warrant for his arrest, the DFA canceled the regular and diplomatic passports of Lacson last August.
However, the Bureau of Immigration disclosed that Lacson was a returning Filipino and he has the right to come home.
“That is a right we can not deny, even if he has no documents,” lawyer Tonette Mangrobang, BI spokesman, told the Manila Bulletin in a text message Monday.
“He is, after all, a senator of the republic. That is our position,” Mangrobang added.
Mangrobang identified Immigration Officer Jenny de Vega as the one who admitted Lacson when he returned to Manila.
The BI spokesperson said the duty officer was only able to record the number of the travel document (34258) and the date of its issuance which is March 24, 2011.
“Our immigration officer simply did not make a thorough verification on the senator’s travel documents simply because she knew who Lacson is and that the senator is definitely a Filipino returning to the country,” Mangrobang said, as she stressed that there was no cover-up or conspiracy on the return of the senator.
However, this was in stark contrast to her earlier statements where she declared that airport immigration officers may face administrative sanctions should they fail to explain fully why they were not able to get pertinent information in the travel documents used by Lacson – particularly the place where it was issued.
She explained that the usual process for an immigration officer is to check all the pertinent entries in the travel document of a person, notwithstanding if he is a well-known personality like Lacson or not.
“They have to adhere to the standard procedure,” she pointed out.
According to the DFA, a travel document allows the bearer a direct, one-way trip to the Philippines.
It is only issued in critical instances, usually in life or death situations, the DFA clarified.
It added that a travel document is not a short cut in complying with the requirements for the renewal of a passport or the replacement of a lost passport.
It can only be resorted to when the consular officer determines that its use is warranted.
Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief, was charged for his alleged involvement in the killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver in 2000.
The senator has already denied any involvement in the killings but said he knows the mastermind behind it.
source: manila bulletin
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