WHEREAS, the Philippine passport is one of the most important documents produced by the National Government, and it is its duty to ensure and protect the integrity of this valuable document as embodied in the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 (Republic Act No. 8239);

WHEREAS, there is an increasing number of passport irregularities and fraud cases conducted through the methodical manipulation and circumvention of the Philippine passporting system;

WHEREAS, cases of illegal sale and possession of Philippine passports by foreign nationals have increased;

WHEREAS, these fraudulent passports become tools for transnational terrorists and other criminal elements;

WHEREAS, such nefarious activities promote a negative image of the Philippine Government abroad, ultimately leading to a decrease in global credibility and prestige for the country;

WHEREAS, there is a need to enhance the mandate of the existing Inter-Agency Committee Against Passport Irregularities to constitute an operating arm to actively pursue the investigation, prosecution and disposition of cases involving passport irregularities and to facilitate and expedite government processes in the resolution of such cases;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Composition of the Committee. There is hereby reconstituted an Inter-Agency Committee Against Passport Irregularities, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, to be composed of the following agencies:

The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and members of the Committee may designate their alternates who shall be senior officials of their respective Departments or agencies, with a rank not lower than Director.

SEC. 2. Functions of the Committee. The Committee shall have the following functions:

a. Establish the blueprint for achieving a coordinated approach to the problem of passport fraud by defining the roles, obligations and accountabilities of each member department or agency;

b. Collate and review existing passporting procedures, including the redesigning of a tamper-proof passport, and adopt and promulgate implementing guidelines for the effective enhancement of the integrity of the Philippine passport;

c. Ensure the proper implementation of established procedures; and

d. Call on any department, bureau or office of the Government, including government-owned and controlled corporations, to render such assistance as it may need in the discharge of its functions.

SEC. 3. Composition of the Special Committee Sub-Group. A special sub-group, hereinafter referred to as the Sub-Group, is hereby established within the Committee composed of representatives of the following:

a. Department of Foreign Affairs
b. Department of Justice
c. National Bureau of Investigation
d. Directorate for Intelligence, PNP
e. Directorate for Operations, PNP
f. National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
g. Intelligence Service, AFP

SEC. 4. Functions of the Special Committee Sub-Group. The Sub-Group shall have the following functions:

a. Conduct investigations, particularly pursuing and supporting entrapment and intelligence operations by law-enforcement agencies, of cases involving passport irregularities;

b. Perform and serve as a forum for the effective coordination of the prosecution and final disposition of cases involving passport irregularities;

c. Perform and serve as a forum for the exchange of intelligence on cases involving passport irregularities;

d. Maintain a central database of information and intelligence on all cases involving passport irregularities; and

e. Submit a quarterly report of its activities to the Committee.

SEC. 5. Report to the President. The Committee shall submit to the President a quarterly progress report on its activities.

SEC. 6. Funding. The amounts of TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P2,500,000.00) for the second semester of 1997 and FIVE MILLION PESOS (P5,000,000.00) for 1998 are hereby authorized to be set aside from the President ™s Contingent Fund. Subsequent appropriations shall be incorporated into the budget proposals of member agencies, particularly for those concerned with the investigation and prosecution of cases. Subsequent administrative expenses of the Committee, on the other hand, shall be included in the budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs, subject to existing accounting and auditing laws and procedures.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. All other Executive Orders, Administrative Orders, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of July in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Seven.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary