DOJ: Passports of Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong cancelled

MANILA, November 25 ------ The Philippine passports of Cassandra Li Ong and lawyer Harry Roque have been cancelled, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said.

Ong and Roque are facing human trafficking cases. Department of Justice spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez added that aside from accused Roque and Ong, the passports of Ronelyn Baterna, Dennis Cunanan and Mercides Macabasa were also ordered cancelled by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 157.

Martinez noted that citing Republic Act No. 11983 or the New Philippine Passport Act, the RTC ordered the cancellation of the passports on the ground that the accused are deemed fugitives from justice. “Any accused whose passport has been cancelled is barred from leaving the country and serves as a restriction to his/her constitutional right to travel,” Martinez said in a statement.

Martinez also said that if the accused are in another country, their movement will become limited as they will no longer be able to exit the foreign country’s borders or travel to another country. Martinez added that if they are in country that is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the DOJ can easily communicate with the said state through the Bureau of Immigration that their passports have been cancelled.

The DOJ also stressed that Roque and the other accused may immediately be subjected to deportation proceedings. “With no valid passport, they can also now be subjected to deportation proceedings by the host State where they may be located,” Martinez said.

Roque has denied alleged involvement in human trafficking and abuse at the Lucky South 99 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator in Porac, Pampanga but the case against him remains pending since the Angeles City court handling it has yet to acquire jurisdiction over him.

Under the New Philippine Passport Act, passports can be cancelled when ordered by a court if the passport holder has been convicted of a criminal offense, is a fugitive from justice, or is a suspected terrorist and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act. "Dahil nga may warrant of arrest na ho siya, ang kanilang ginawa ay pakansela po yung kanyang passport para ma-inform po ang Interpol ng Red Notice at ma-aresto siya ng Interpol," Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier said. “Liliit na ‘yung mundo nila,” he added.

Gatchalian even encouraged Ong and Roque to just return to the country “Mahirapan na sila mag travel, kaya mas maganda sa kanila bumalik nalang dito sa bansa natin.” He said, returning to the Philippines will also be an avenue for them to prove their innocence. “Face the cases and dito rin nila mapoprove yung kanilang innocence kung talagang innocent sila.” urged Gatchalian Gatchalian also said that to avoid the same thing from happening especially those involved in anomalies specifically in the flood control issue, coordination from different agencies is a must.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com