DOTr Warns Airlines Against Passport Tampering Amid Reports of Passenger Offloading

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) in the Philippines has issued a stern warning to airlines against the alleged deliberate tampering of passengers' passports, a practice that could lead to severe sanctions. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon addressed these concerns following reports of incidents of "punit passport" (deliberately torn passports) at certain airports, resulting in affected passengers being offloaded.

Secretary Dizon emphasized that if these allegations prove to be true, the involved parties will face significant consequences. "We will review CCTV footage and gather personal accounts from airports to ensure such incidents are addressed," he stated, noting that the alleged events are currently under investigation.

One prominent case highlighted involved Diana Natividad, who shared on social media that her 78-year-old father was unable to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Bali due to a minor tear on his passport. She described the tear as minor, likely due to normal wear, and expressed confusion over the refusal.

Cebu Pacific, responding to these allegations, denied any wrongdoing by their staff. Spokesperson Carmina Romero expressed the airline's commitment to customer service, stating, "It is our joy to fly passengers to their destinations. We have no intention to ruin vacations."

Romero underscored that airlines must ensure passenger documents, particularly passports, are intact and meet international standards to avoid complications with foreign immigration authorities. Indonesian authorities in Bali confirmed they would not have accepted the damaged passport upon arrival, adding context to the decision to offload Natividad's father.

The DOTr also reminds passengers traveling internationally to verify their passport's validity and condition prior to departure. They encourage consulting with passport centers or airport officials if there is any doubt about passport integrity.

According to advisories from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), a passport is deemed damaged if its physical integrity is compromised to the extent that it becomes mutilated or defective. This includes any scenarios where the data page is unreadable, the chip is compromised, or parts of the document are detached or water-damaged, thus affecting visa stamps and printed information.

As the investigation continues, the DOTr aims to ensure that such issues do not inconvenience travelers or disrupt their plans unnecessarily.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Inquirer 2025-04-30