The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) rejected the allegations by Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco that it is lawyering for resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co by not cancelling his passport amid the lawmaker’s involvement in the multi-billion-peso flood control corruption scandal.

In a statement on Friday night, Oct. 17, the DFA said that Tiangco’s remark “reflects a misunderstanding of the legal standards governing passport cancellation.”

“Under the New Passport Law, the DFA may cancel or revoke a passport only upon grounds expressly provided by law, such as passport acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously, or upon orders of the court when the holder has been convicted of a criminal offense or fugitive from justice,” it explained.

“This process is governed by established legal criteria and is not subject to arbitrary or political considerations,” the agency added.

The DFA stressed that its “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.”

Instead, it urged Tiangco to seek judicial relief “rather than indulge in baseless accusations” if he “has genuine concerns and substantive evidence.”

“Upholding the rule of law, not rhetoric, must remain the compass of public service,” the DFA said.

In a press briefing after his meeting with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure amid the commission’s investigation on the alleged anomalies in infrastructure projects across the country, Tiangco questioned the DFA why it has yet to cancel Co’s passport.

The lawmaker alleged that the DFA “or other government officials” are defending Co on why his passport cannot be canceled.

Co is currently being investigated for his alleged role in the anomalous infrastructure projects across the country, specifically the ghost or substandard flood control projects linked to his company.