News

Remains of Pinoy couple who drowned in Maldives to brought to Sri Lanka

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 16 01:03 AM

MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday that the remains of the Filipino couple who drowned in the Maldives would be flown to Sri Lanka for embalming.   Read more »

Filipino student drowns in New Zealand: DFA

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 15 09:56 PM

A Filipino student drowned in New Zealand last Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.   Read more »

‘Bakit kailangang mangyari?’ Parents of couple in Maldives tragedy want answers

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 15 09:22 PM

The parents of a couple who died in their honeymoon in Maldives are still in disbelief over the fate that befell their children. Read more »

Mga labi ng mag-asawang nalunod sa Maldives, maiuuwi na sa Pilipinas

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jan 15 07:57 PM

Tutulong ang DFA para mapauwi na ang mga labi ng mag-asawang Pinoy na nalunod sa Maldives.  Read more »

Passport data di tinangay, di lang ma-access: DFA secretary

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jan 15 08:52 PM

Sinabi ng DFA secretary na nilagdaan na niya ang kautusang nagsasabi na hindi na kailangang magsumite ng birth certificate ang mga magre-renew ng kanilang passport.  Read more »

No need for birth certificate to renew passport: Locsin

Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jan 15 08:32 PM

Birth certificates are no longer needed by passport holders to renew their travel document, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Tuesday. Read more »

DFA to repatriate honeymooners who drowned in Maldives

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jan 15 03:50 PM

The Department of Foreign Affairs will pay for the repatriation of the remains of the newly-wedded couple who drowned in Maldives while on their honeymoon, an official confirmed Tuesday.   Read more »

NPC to hold fact-finding inquiry on passport 'data breach'

Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jan 15 04:34 PM

MANILA - The National Privacy Commission (NPC) said Monday it would conduct a fact-finding investigation in the supposed data breach in the passport system. Read more »

ANC Soundbytes: Yasay on the DFA passport mess

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 14 11:01 PM

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay has a different view on the current passport data mess.  Read more »

DICT unit to launch own probe on passport data incident

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 14 06:52 PM

The Department of Information Technology and Communications' (DICT) CyberSecurity Bureau on Monday said it would conduct its own investigation on the alleged passport data loss. Read more »

No proof yet of passport data breach, says privacy watchdog

Jacque Manabat, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jan 14 04:51 PM

The agency's forensics team searched the so-called "dark web," accessible only through specialized software and there was "no proof yet" of a breach NPC Commissioner Mon Liboro said in response to a question.   Read more »

Passport mess: Senators seek probe, review of all contracts

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 14 03:14 PM

Two senators on Monday called separately for a legislative probe and a review of all information management contracts after a private contractor allegedly ran off with passport data.  Read more »

Passport data 'no leak so far' but likely 'corrupted,' says Locsin

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jan 14 05:39 PM

MANILA - There is "no leak so far" of the passport data that a former private contractor allegedly ran off with, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said Monday.   Read more »

Ex-DFA chief Yasay suspects deflection in passport mess; Locsin denies he is 'misinformed'

Trishia Billones, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jan 14 01:29 PM

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr on Monday said he does not believe a contractor stole the data from his former agency in its passport renewal system. Read more »

Privacy body warns: Don't jump to conclusions over passport mess

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 14 09:17 AM

The public should not draw hasty conclusions over an alleged security breach after a private contractor ran off with the passport data of millions of Filipinos, the National Privacy Commission warned Monday. Read more »

Ex-DFA chief on passport data mess: Judge level of efficiency during our time

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jan 14 11:14 AM

A predecessor of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin on Monday refused to comment on the latter's claim that the country's passport woes started during the Arroyo administration and worsened under President Benigno Aquino III. Read more »

ICT official says protocol in handling sensitive info must be revisited

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 13 05:59 PM

An official of the Department of Information and Communications Technology urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to revisit its rules in handling sensitive information. Read more »

Robredo backs calls to file case vs contractor in DFA passport data mess

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 13 04:30 PM

MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday backed calls for the government to file a case against the contractor who allegedly took Filipino passport data from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Read more »

Locsin on passport data mess — ‘I just want it fixed and not repeated’

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 13 01:56 AM

Teodoro Locsin Jr. vowed that his department will get to the bottom of the issue involving a foreign company running away with Filipinos' passport data. Read more »

Drilon wants passport contractor to face charges for taking data

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 12 10:54 PM

Drilon on Saturday said the government should file charges against a company that allegedly "made off" with Filipinos' passport data after its services were terminated.  Read more »