The Department of Foreign Affairs has barred media people and other personalities from obtaining passports through the courtesy lane. Department Order No. 31-99 issued by Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. on Dec. 20, 1999 now limits the courtesy lane to DFA employees and their immediate family members (parents, spouses, children and siblings).
Workers in other government agencies will also be entertained in the courtesy lane but not their families. "Except for emergency cases, all other applicants should be advised to undergo normal processing at the Passport Division and should not be escorted by any DFA personnel," the order reads.
Only the Secretary, through his duly designated officer, the four undersecretaries and assistant or acting assistant secretaries have the authority to approve requests for courtesy lane processing from personnel assigned in their respective offices.
Media people, government employees and their immediate family members were once allowed to apply for passports through the courtesy lane. Even other relatives of DFA personnel and people who got endorsements from department officials were given the special treatment.
When passports are processed in the courtesy lane, applicants need not fall in line at the back of the DFA building in Pasay City along with hundreds of others applying. The passports are also released a day after payment of the fees instead of the normal three to five days. However, consular staff said the courtesy had been abused by DFA employees themselves and other unscrupulous individuals who were facilitating passport applications for a fee.
Through the order, the consular staff disclosed they were hoping to eliminate fixers in the department.
The order also specifically said showbiz stars or entertainers going to Japan and other countries were never to be allowed to apply for passports through the courtesy lane. "The courtesy lane shall not entertain requests for waiver of requirements or personal appearance for first time applicants," the order added.
The Secretary warned that any officer or employee who violates the provisions of the order and other passport rules and regulations or commits misrepresentations, falsification or forgery in order to avail of the courtesy lane privilege for people other than their immediate family members, would forfeit their privilege.
They will also be charged administratively without prejudice to the filing of appropriate criminal charges in court, the order said.