TODAY I yield my space to allow the wife of a good friend to vent about her exasperating travel experience, which started at NAIA Immigration. Lest the defense argument be that this is a fluke, a one-of-a-kind mishap, bear in mind, my dear fellow travelers, that in all probability, strange if not stranger things have happened only in the Philippines. Be aware!
“I was in the Interpol ‘hit list’
“I was on a flight to Bangkok to present my paper and complete my training in Curative Education and Social Therapy for Special Needs Children when I was held at the immigration desk on the night of Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, because my passport number came up in the Interpol hit list.
“The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) had submitted [my passport number] to Interpol as either lost, stolen, revoked or invalid. They (the immigration officer) confiscated my passport, and I was prevented from boarding my flight to Bangkok. I told them that I didn’t report my passport as being lost or stolen. The officer maintained they had to follow protocol and escorted me out of the airport.
“What if it was reported lost or stolen so a person can be issued a new passport and steal my identity? The thought made me shudder. Who would want to do that to a little old lady like me? Or could it simply be an input error?
“What a nightmare! It took me three and half years going seven times to Thailand, and attending seven days of F2F sessions, while doing online sessions the rest of the months. And by some human error, I am forced to miss my flight for a much-awaited graduation?!
“I aspired for these credentials from Camphill Academy, USA, and Goetheanum’s Inclusive Social Devt and Spiritual Sciences in Dornach, Switzerland, to set up a Therapy Farm and Respite Care in Antipolo for special needs children like my son.
“Since it was a Sunday and government offices were closed, Immigration couldn’t call the Department of Foreign Affairs to verify if I was telling the truth and erase the mistake from the Interpol database.
“The immigration supervisor advised me to just get a new passport because even if they allowed me to fly that night, the immigration officer in Bangkok would surely spot the Interpol list and immediately deport me back to Manila.
“No amount of calling several influential people to help me out of my predicament could do anything at this point. I went home determined to resolve this matter and take the next flight to present my paper and graduate in time.
“Early the next morning, my husband drove me to the consular office. Of course, this was after having to first email, call them up and personally go to the Special Concerns and Pending Unit to report what happened.
“The personnel at the counter said that they still had to first investigate before they could issue me a new passport. And even if it was a transmittal error, at the earliest it would take two to three days for a new passport to be issued as passports are done in Batangas.
“I begged for consideration and got teary-eyed. I told the DFA personnel how unfair that I get to be taken out like a suspected criminal at the Immigration, and missing my non-rebookable flight and being sent home. And now, I am being penalized for a transmittal error to Interpol because someone didn’t bother to verify the passport number with the person who reported it lost?
“Inasmuch as I hated to name-drop and pull rank, my husband had to mention several names (with himself being a former diplomat and colleague of two current undersecretaries). I didn’t add I was once a confidential secretary to a Philippine ambassador to the European Union.
“It was sad and disappointing that we had to name high-ranking officers for the head of passport services to act on my case. What if I knew no one who could elevate it to a higher DFA officer?
“We were later told the reported lost passport had the same number as mine except one! I felt violated of my right to travel when I didn’t commit any wrongdoing.
“My husband and I were met by the head of the passport division together with two other subordinates who made small talk to placate us while I was being escorted to the passport renewal area.
“Bwisit lang na nakalimutan ko mag makeup! My naked face will be in my passport for the next 10 years! Oh well...
“I got my passport before 5 p.m. that same day. In fairness, the DFA and immigration personnel were all kind and courteous, and I appreciated them for that. But their proper handling didn’t make a wrong, right.
“I am sharing this harrowing experience because:
“I want the matter investigated. I don’t want anyone to undergo the same experience I did for an error that was not caught before transmitting to Interpol. With the info tech available, the DFA could have avoided having an innocent person go through such an embarrassing and stressful situation. Can you imagine the shock and grief of knowing only at the time of departure that he/she cannot travel?
“The consular office should review their protocols so this does not happen again! It should be SOP that if a similar situation arises, the Special Concerns Unit will already work on the same-day release of a new passport.
“And btw, I had to pay P950 for a renewed passport that they should have waived. In fact, I can sue for damages — for the cost of a new airline ticket, a no-show at the hotel, for land transport, plus the physical, emotional and psychological toll it took on me.”
Do you now understand that it may happen to you? Only in da pilipins...