DFA: Online passport appointment slots free

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday warned passport applicants against fixers following the arrest last week of 23 people who sold appointment slots to unsuspecting victims.

Ricarte Abejuela lll, acting director of the Office of the Consular Affairs Passport Division, said passport appointment slots online are free.

“Facebook posts offering passport appointments are a scam,” Abejuela said.

The DFA opened passport appointment slots daily from March to June.

“The applicants should be prompt and alert because the demand is so high we run out of slots quickly,” Abejuela said.

He lauded Chief Superintendent Tomas Apolinario, director of the Southern Police District, for the arrest of the suspects.

Apolinario said the suspects were collared during entrapment operations in Parañaque, Pasay and Taguig City on Thursday.

They were Nenita Ugalde, 63; Noelito Ventura, 46; Marlon Narvaez, 35; Amalia Tagarilo, 44; Marilyn Tabay, 52; Michael Montel, 42; Alejandra Sacdalan, 48; Jonathan Tagarino, 46; Yolanda Villanueva, 45; Gina Carbon, 47; Maila Caluya, 47; Ligaya Banares, 63; Zaldy Pelonia, 52; Lilia Felix, 54; Roselyn Oliveros, 28; Rosalinda Zamora, 40; Criza Mae Castor, 24; Aileen Casita, 51; Marivic Arojo, 33; Mark Justine Doromal, 29; Ricardo Rojas, 50; Vilma Evite, 46, and Evangeline Soriano, 52.

Police arrested the suspects by pretending to be passport applicants.

The arrests were conducted upon the request of the DFA following complaints that fixers were selling passport appointment slots for a fee.

Police said charges of estafa were filed against the suspects.

–