No syndicate behind ‘selling’ of passport appointment slots —Cayetano



By RIE TAKUMI, GMA News
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday denied that a syndicate involving Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) personnel and travel agencies are behind the alleged selling of slots for passport appointments.
Cayetano, during the launching of the new passport with 10-year validity at the DFA-Office of Consular Affairs in Parañaque City, said travel agencies are no longer allowed to offer appointment slots for passport applications.
"'Di namin sinasabing imposibleng may nanloloko, na sinasabing may slot sila. Anybody can say anything. Ang sinasabi ko, wala silang slot, kaya wala silang  ibebenta sa inyo," he said.
Cayetano added that such illegal activity — the selling of appointment slots — is only possible during the old system where travel agencies were allotted 1,200 slots a day. That system was abolished last year.
He dared those accusing the DFA of being in cahoots with travel agencies to "give us the evidence or give us the lead."
The DFA has come under heavy fire from Filipinos — including those working abroad — who are renewing their passports because of difficulties in getting appointment through the agency's online facilities.
The DFA's Facebook page has been flooded with complaints from people unable to get appointments earlier than March.
Cayetano, during the event, said they are currently "fixing the system" to make passport application easier. —KBK, GMA News

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