The Department of Justice (DOJ) bared on Wednesday its plan to cancel the passport of suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves to prevent the latter from traveling to different countries.
In a press briefing, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla said they are just waiting for the prosecutor panel to formally file a case against Teves before seeking to cancel his passport.
"The right to travel is a constitutional right. So, we have to respect that right. A citizen passport is a document evidencing his citizenship. Given that, we will cancel it if there is a cause to cancel it which is a court case for murder or terrorism, or whatever case to be filed," he explained.
According to the DOJ Secretary, the suspended Negros Oriental lawmaker has two passports — a regular passport and a diplomatic passport. Remulla noted that Teves should not be allowed to use the diplomatic passport since the suspension order against him is still in effect.
Aside from the aforementioned passports, he also said that they received information that Teves is a holder of a golden passport.
"Itong golden passports are actually sold by different states so that you could use other passports for visa-free entry to other countries," Remulla added.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Teves' legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio underscored that "there is no basis for the cancellation" of his client's passport.
"There are only three instances when a Philippine passport may be canceled: when one is fugitive from justice; when one has been convicted of a crime; and when the passport was fraudulently acquired or has been tampered with," he said.
Teves, who is being tagged as main mastermind of the brazen killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo last March 4, is presently in East Timo where he attempted to apply for a protection visa with the intent of special political asylum there.
But this appeal was denied by the East Timor government, and he was given five days to leave the country.
Earlier, the justice department filed a case to prescribe Teves as a terrorist before the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).
