Militant Pinoys in Saudi seek probe of ‘defective’ e-passports

Militant Filipinos in Saudi Arabia are calling for an investigation into alleged defects in some 10,000 e-passports, a Saudi news site reported Tuesday.

Arab News reported recipients of the defective passports were dismayed as this could affect their travel plans and force them to go to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“It would be prudent on the part of the DFA to conduct an investigation over these substandard passports so that the incident will not be repeated. Filipinos deserve quality service,” Arab News quoted Migrante Middle East coordinator John Leonard Monterona as saying.

Earlier, the DFA claimed there could be some 10,000 damaged passports out of the 10 million issued from August 2009 to March 2014. In the Philippines, it has urged holders of e-passports that have detached covers to have them them replaced at any DFA offices.

But in Saudi Arabia, Monterona said e-passport renewal costs around SR240 (P2,760).

He suggested that the government procurement system be reviewed and international quality standards be adopted.

“If the materials and machines used in passport production pass through stringent and rigorous procurement system, why were defective e-passports issued? It boils down to an issue of quality service,” he said.

The DFA said out of the 10 million passport issued from August 2009 to March 2014, less than 10,000 damaged passports were brought to the department's attention. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News

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