Passport fixer arrested in entrapment operation
A male owner of a travel agency was arrested in an entrapment operation on Friday, October 29, for supposedly fixing online appointment slots with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for passport renewal applicants, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) reported.
The suspect who was not identified was arrested in an entrapment operation launched by ARTA and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Parañaque City following an "extensive case build-up that stems back from a complaint ARTA received in July 2021."
According to ARTA, the suspect claimed that he had a contact inside the DFA-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) who helped him book the appointment slots.
ARTA Director-General Jeremiah Belgica said the agency will continue its investigation to confirm if the unidentified fixer indeed had a contact inside the DFA-OCA.
"Patuloy ho naming iimbestigahan, magkakaroon kami ng mga hearing ulit dito... dahil kataka-taka kung paano sila nakakuha ng slot sa loob (We will proceed with the investigations and hearings because it's a wonder how they are able to secure slots)," he said.
Based on the anonymous complaint received by ARTA, some travel agencies offered to book appointment slots for passport renewal applicants at the said office for an increased price. At the time, applicants had difficulty in booking slots through the DFA website as it stated that there are no available slots for the next two months.
"ARTA agents conducted surveillance and discreet investigation at the travel agencies possibly involved in the fixing activity, where they encountered the fixer who offered to book appointment slots for them for P2,500 per passport," ARTA said.
Initially, two passports from an asset and P5,000 were handed to the fixer for his illegal services. However, these were returned and refunded to the asset in August 2021 after the fixer failed to book the appointment slots due to Metro Manila's shift to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The ARTA agent maintained communication with the fixer. At the start of October, the suspect contacted the agent, informing them of available appointment slots.
The agent later met up with the fixer and handed him the same passports and amount required. A few days after, the agent received the details of two appointment slots forwarded from appointment@passport.gov.ph, which is seemingly an official email of the DFA. The renewal applications were approved in about a week.
The agent and the fixer agreed to meet again for the processing of another passport renewal application. The suspect was then arrested by elements of the ARTA-NBI team after he received the passport and P2,500 for the payment.
The suspect was transferred to the custody of the NBI and will face possible charges for violation of the Ease of Doing Business Act.
Meanwhile, Belgica appealed to the public to not engage with fixers.
"Huwag po natin tangkilikin ang korapsyon. Tulungan po natin ang gobyernong ayusin ang mga proseso (Let us not tolerate corruption. Help the government fix the process)," he said.
"Totoo na napakahirap ng sitwasyon ngayong may COVID-19 (It's true that we're in a tough spot because of COVID-19)... but we're trying to improve. Kaya huwag naman po tayo gumawa ng ilegal, ibig sabihin, pag may mag-aalok ng fixing, tanggihan niyo (That's why we shouldn't do anything illegal. If you get an offer from fixers, decline)," he added.
Last week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. did not mince his words after learning that there are still fixers of passport appointments, saying he will nail their asses to the wall regardless of who their protectors are.
"I will nail their asses to the wall and if they are connected to agencies or officials I will not nail their asses to the wall—but their scrota (Latin plural of scrotum), they can choose to face away or to the wall," he said.
"I don’t give two fucks who their protector is," he added.
The DFA has been reminding the public that passport appointment slots are free and can only be secured by going to the website passport.gov.ph.
It urged the public to make sure that there are no errors in their names and place and date of birth before they submit the online form. Any error will not be corrected on-site and will be done manually.