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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ridon says court order needed to cancel someone's passport

Ridon says court order needed to cancel someone's passport

Published Oct 17, 2025 04:32 pm

At A Glance

  • Lawyer-solon Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon says the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cannot unilaterally cancel individuals' Philippine passports.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (left), Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (left), Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Lawyer-solon Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon says the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cannot unilaterally cancel individuals' Philippine passports.
Ridon, in a statement Friday, Oct. 17, said that a court order was needed for the DFA to do this.
"To cancel [Philippine] passports, the operative provisions are Section 4 AND Section 10 of the Passport Act, which require court orders for the cancellation of passports for convicted criminals, fugitives or suspected terrorists," he said.
"Section 10 of the Philippine Passport Act is clear: a court order is required for the cancellation of passports belonging to convicted criminals, fugitives, or suspected terrorists," noted the House Infrastructure Committee overall chairman and Committee on Foreign Affairs member.
While Ridon didn't mention his name, his remarks appeared to be response to Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco, who in a press conference at the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Friday demanded the DFA to cancel former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co's passport.
Tiangco said the situation involving Co--a central figure in the flood control projects corruption scandal--was already a national security matter.
"There is no provision in the Passport Act authorizing the DFA to unilaterally cancel a Philippine passport on the mere invocation of national security," Ridon said.
"Moreover, Section 4 of the Passport Act must be read in conjunction with Section 10 in all matters involving national security. It explicitly requires judicial authorization—a court order—before the passport of a suspected terrorist may be cancelled," he further noted.
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