DOJ asks DFA to cancel JPE, Bong, Jinggoy passports

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to revoke the passports of Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Revilla, Jr. and other officials charged with plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam.

The DOJ said that all 37 respondents they charged with plunder and malversation of public funds last month were included in the request for passport revocation.

In a 15-page letter to DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario dated October 23, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima cited three reasons for the request namely: the possibility of flight, national security and the gravity of the crime.

"The possibility that several of the subject persons will be in detention throughout the trial of their case is high, and therefore there is a strong probability that they will attempt to leave the country in order to evade arrest, detention, and prosecution altogether," De Lima wrote.

Also in the list was Enrile's former chief of staff Jessica "Gigi" Reyes, who fled to Macau before the case was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman last September 16. Ruby Tuason, another respondent, left the country in August, while alleged scam brains Janet Lim Napoles is currently detained for an illegal detention case.

Read: Plunder raps filed vs Napoles, 3 'pork' senators | Summary of plunder, malversation complaints vs Napoles, 8 lawmakers

The other respondents tagged in the case were former representatives Rodolfo Plaza who left on September 11, Samuel Dangwa and Constantino Jaraula.

Also cited are former heads of involved government-owned and control corporations such as former Training and Research Center director General Antonio Ortiz who departed last September 6.

"The probability of their flight is further buttressed by the fact that four of the subject persons left the Philippines after the allegations against them were made public and only days prior to the filing of the cases

The Philippine Passport Act provides three conditions for passports to be revoked namely when the holder is a "fugitive from justice, convicted of a criminal offense" or "when a passport was acquired fraudulently or tampered with."

Although plunder is a non-bailable criminal offense, none of the respondents have been convincted yet or ordered arrested.

National security

"There is sufficient basis in fact and law to cancel the passports of the subject persons in the interest of national security," De Lima wrote.

"We recall that the Constitution expressly permits the limitation of the right to travel 'in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law'," De Lima continued, citing Section 4 of the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.

The justice secretary said that even the link between corruption of government officials and national security is recognized under international conventions and organizational policies.

"Corruption, which negatively impacts democratic institutions and the rule of law, has a prejudicial effect on the security and stability of societies," the letter states.

The massive scale of the plundered funds amounting to over P10 billion is also reason enough for the cancelation of passports, De Lima added.

"In a sense, politicians and their cohorts who pluck the food away from a hungry child’s mouth are no different from the terrorists who sow physical insecurity among the populace, when they cause economic insecurity," the Justice chief said.

Although plunder is a non-bailable criminal offense, none of the respondents have been convincted yet or ordered arrested.

"Itong ground na sina-cite namin, I think it would hold. I'm just improving the discussion in the letter request so when we send it to the DFA, we can furnish you a copy of the official letter request," De Lima also said.