Court order needed to cancel Roque passport

MANILA, Philippines — Without a court order, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cannot cancel former presidential spokesman Harry Roque’s passport.

Despite the issuance of an arrest order against him on human trafficking charges, a court order specifically directing the revocation of his travel documents is needed.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs can cancel Philippine passports issued to Filipino citizens upon receipt of a court order, issued by a competent Philippine court, instructing the DFA to cancel a Philippine Passport,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said.

“This is pursuant to Sections 4 and 10 of RA (Republic Act) 11983 or the New Philippine Passport Act,” she told The STAR yesterday.

Daza noted that the court order must specifically order the revocation or cancellation of a passport, which means that an arrest warrant would not suffice.

Roque, who has a pending asylum application in the Netherlands, is now subject of an arrest order issued by a trial court in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The charges against Roque stem from his supposed involvement in or connection to the alleged illegal operations of a Philippine offshore gaming operator in Pampanga that was raided in June 2024.