The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has issued a stern warning to airlines, stressing that any deliberate tampering of passengers’ passports by airline personnel will lead to sanctions.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon made the announcement on Monday amid reports of alleged “punit passport” incidents at airports, where travelers were reportedly stopped from boarding due to minor passport damages.
“If we see any such incident, if anyone does such nonsense, sanctions will be imposed on both the airlines and their personnel,” Dizon said in a statement.
The issue came to light after a Cebu Pacific passenger was barred from boarding a flight to Bali. Airline staff noted minor damage to the passport, photographed it, and sought advice from immigration authorities in Bali. Indonesian officials confirmed that the passport would not have been accepted upon arrival.
Following the incident, the passenger filed a formal complaint with the Civil Aeronautics Board.
The DOTr also reminded the public to regularly inspect the condition and validity of their passports before traveling. In cases of doubt, travelers are advised to seek guidance from passport centers or airport authorities to avoid any travel disruptions.
