Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA)

Hi, I would to request a Copy of Mr. Arnel Aldana Lopez passport because since 2008 he lost his passport here in UAE and the Amnesty is already started, I want to help him give him work here but I can not make VISA for him wit out his passport. Even the authorities here dont know how to give him lost passport certificate. Please as help us to solve this problem. [Text Redacted]

August 30, 2018

Dear Mark,

Thank you for your request dated Aug 13, 2018 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for Passport Information.

We received your request on Aug 13, 2018 and will respond on or before Sep 03, 2018 05:52:02 PM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERGQS00MzcyNjk0NTg2MjgM, for request with ticket number #DFA-437269458628.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer
FOI Officer

August 30, 2018

Dear Mr. Ignacio,

We acknowledge receipt of your request for a copy of the passport of Mr. Arnel Aldana Lopez.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information you are requesting falls under inventory of exceptions to the right to access to information, and is confidential in nature. 

Section 4(a) of the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary on Executive Order No. 02 s. 2016 states that the following is exempted from FOI: 

“Information of a personal nature where disclosures would constitute or clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, personal information or records, including sensitive personal information, birth records, school records, or medical or health records…” 

“However, personal information may be disclosed to the extent that the requested information… shall not meddle with or disturb the private life or family relations of the individual…”   

The need to keep personal information inviolable is recognized in international law as well as in the Inventory of Exceptions to Executive Order No. 02. Therefore the DFA is constrained by law from issuing copies of the subject to the public. 

However, we understand that you would like to be of assistance to Mr. Lopez. The three-month amnesty will begin on 1 August and will end on 31 October 2018. To avail of the amnesty, qualified nationals must apply at the Emirate which issued their most recent visa. They will be given two options: exit the UAE and return to their country, or rectify or legalize their immigration status and be allowed to stay further for six months. 

Filipinos without a valid passport will be allowed to renew or replace their passport, subject to the usual requirements for passport applications. In this regard, you may wish to know that Mr. Lopez need not secure himself a passport. He only needs to register and secure a travel document from our Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and/or the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai to be able to avail himself of the amnesty program. 

For further queries and assistance, you may contact the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi at +971 50 207 9988 / +971 56 970 8726 and/or the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai at +971 56 5015755/ +971 56 5015756. 

You may also refer to the DFA announcement through this link: https://www.dfa.gov.ph/dfa-news/dfa-releasesupdate/17501-dfa-encourages-qualified-filipinos-in-uae-to-take-advantage-of-amnesty.  

Thank you.