DFA slams Ombudsman's visa, passport issuance remarks as 'false, irresponsible'

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday denounced earlier claims made by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla regarding its visa and passport issuance services, describing his statements as false and irresponsible.

Speaking on his DZRH radio program on Saturday, Remulla made several assertions, including the alleged overstaying of about 1% of Chinese tourists who entered the Philippines under a visa-free scheme.

In a statement, the DFA said that the visa-free arrangement for Chinese nationals is limited to tourism or business purposes for a maximum period of 14 days and is non-extendible and non-convertible.

“With regard to the 14-day visa-free entry arrangement for Chinese nationals, DFA Foreign Service Circular No. 2026-005 was issued pursuant to a Presidential directive to facilitate trade, investments, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China,” the agency said.

The department emphasized that any misuse of visa-free privileges does not reflect illegal implementation on the DFA's part and is immediately referred to Philippine law enforcement agencies for proper investigation.

During his radio show, Remulla also shared an anecdote from a Filipino-Chinese businessman who claimed it was easier to secure a US business visa than a Philippine visa.

In response, the DFA maintained that, like any sovereign nation, the Philippines holds the authority to set its own visa requirements and procedures.

Visa issuance authority

Responding to the Ombudsman's claim that visa matters fall exclusively under the Department of Justice's (DOJ) immigration authorities, the DFA strongly objected, asserting that its power to issue visas is grounded in law and does not depend on authority delegated by the DOJ.

“The DFA again cites Section 21(3), Chapter 7 (The Foreign Service), Title I, Book IV of Executive Order No. 292, or the Administrative Code of 1987, which expressly recognizes visa issuance as a statutory function of Philippine consular offices,” the agency noted.

“This mandate is further recognized under Articles 3, 5(d), and 70 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which establish visa issuance as a consular function that may be exercised by diplomatic missions,” it added.

The department also rejected the Ombudsman’s suggestion to outsource visa processing to third-party service providers, emphasizing that visa decisions remain an exclusive state function.

“While the provider may provide administrative support in receiving and facilitating visa applications, the DFA reiterates that the authority to assess, approve, or deny Philippine visas is a sovereign governmental function that cannot be transferred to a private entity through an outsourcing arrangement,” DFA said.

On Saturday, Remulla reiterated his call to outsource visa processing to a third-party, claiming that the DFA was making money off of issuing visas through travel agencies.

The DFA has already previously rejected Remulla’s calls to outsource, adding that it has no tolerance for corruption.

Fake passports

The agency also condemned the Ombudsman's accusations that the DFA issues "fake" passports and profits from its passport and visa processing operations.

“The DFA further calls out the false information and irresponsible comments made about passport services. The DFA does not issue 'fake' passports nor does it impose documentary requirements to make applications deliberately difficult,” the agency emphasized.

“There were also insinuations made during the program that the DFA’s passport and visa services are commercial undertakings. The DFA firmly rejects any suggestion that the Department treats passports and visas as commodities for sale,” it added.

The DFA stressed that passport issuance strictly follows Republic Act No. 11983 or the New Passport Law, while passport and visa fees are collected solely according to the official government Schedule of Fees and turned over directly as national revenue. — BM, GMA News

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