WHILE it is their mandate to check the validity and integrity of passengers’ passports, they should not allow their personnel to abuse this authority.
This was the call made by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) on domestic and international airlines operating in the Philippines, following a viral social media post of a passenger whose relative was denied boarding a flight due to a tear on his passport.
The DOTr said that aligned with established protocols, airlines have to coordinate with immigration authorities of the passengers’ destination country to verify if they will accept a passport that is considered to be tampered or damaged.
It was learned that the DOTr is currently investigating the incident and has already reached out to the immigration in Bali, Indonesia, to validate if they indeed made an assessment that the passenger’s passport would not be accepted, hence the denial of boarding as officially claimed by the concerned airline.
Both CAAP and CAB have likewise been instructed to investigate other allegations of deliberate tampering of passports in some airports.
The DOTr assures the public that these schemes will not be tolerated, if proven. It also advised the public to always ensure that their passports are in good condition.
When in doubt, especially on minor tears, passengers are advised to consult with passport centers of the Department of Foreign Affairs, or with airport authorities.
