ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | May 20, 2024
Dear Chief Acosta,
Nais kong umutang ng malaking halaga ng pera upang ipagamot ang aking ama sa ospital. Mayroong handang magpautang sa akin, ngunit kailangan kong ibigay sa kanya ang aking pasaporte bilang collateral. Gusto ko lang malaman kung ito ay legal bago ako umutang sa kanya. -- Cass
Dear Cass,
Alinsunod sa Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11983, o “New Philippine Passport Act”, na nilagdaan noong ika-11 ng Marso 2024 at nagpapawalang-bisa sa “Philippine Passport Act of 1996”, ang pasaporte ay nananatiling pag-aari ng gobyerno sa lahat ng oras at hindi maaaring kumpiskahin ng sinuman, maliban sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA):
“SEC. 13. Ownership of Passports. – A Philippine passport remains at all times the property of the government and the same may not be confiscated by any entity or person other than the DFA. Any other government agency, official or employee who confiscates a passport or travel document shall promptly turn over the same to the DFA.
Persons who confiscate or otherwise withhold a passport without authority therefor shall be punished in accordance with Section 22(a) of this Act.”
Kaugnay nito, ang pagkuha ng pasaporte ng Pilipinas ay isang pribilehiyo lamang. Kinikilala ng ating batas ang karapatan ng bawat isa na maglakbay. Gayunpaman, kinakailangan din ng Estado na ipagtanggol at panatilihin ang integridad at kredibilidad ng pasaporte dahil ito ay nananatiling pag-aari ng pamahalaan sa lahat ng oras.
Kung kaya, ang pagkumpiska at paggamit ng pasaporte bilang collateral sa utang ay mariing ipinagbabawal ng batas, at may karampatang pagkakabilanggo at multa sa ilalim ng Section 22 ng nasabing batas:
“SEC. 22. Offenses and Penalties. – (a) Offenses relating to illegal withholding of passport; penalties. – Any person or entity without legal authority who confiscates, retains, or withholds any passport issued by the DFA shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years and one (1) day but not more than twenty (20) years, and shall pay a fine of not less than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00): Provided, That a prosecution under this Act shall be without prejudice to any liability for violation of Republic Act No. 8042 or the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995”, as amended. xxx
(c) Offenses relating to improper use of passports, other travel documents, and supporting documents; penalties. – Imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than fifteen (15) years and a fine not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than Two hundred fifty thousand (P250,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person who willfully and knowingly xxx
(3) Sells, trades, pawns, mortgages, or uses a passport or travel document as a collateral to secure debt, or in any manner uses such passport or other travel document as currency or object of commerce: Provided, That in such situation, the buyer, creditor, or mortgagee shall also be liable to the same extent as the passport/travel document holder.”
Samakatuwid, sa iyong sitwasyon, hindi mo maaaring gamitin at ibigay ang iyong pasaporte bilang collateral sa utang dahil ito ay labag sa ating batas. Kung ito ay iyong itutuloy, ikaw at ang iyong pagsasanglaan ng pasaporte ay parehas na mananagot sa batas.
Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay.
Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.
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