Senate Bill Wants Gov’t Officials With Pending Cases to Lose Travel Privileges

Filipinos know the struggle of travelling abroad. Visa appointments, pricey tickets, long immigration lines. Yet some government officials with pending cases can still hop on a plane with ease.

A new Senate bill wants to put a stop to that.

Senator Erwin Tulfo filed Senate Bill 1362 to regulate foreign travel authority (FTA), the permit government workers need before flying out. The proposal is clear: if you have a case or are under probe, no travel pass.

That covers three situations:

• if you are already facing a criminal or administrative case, or under investigation or audit

• if your alleged actions could threaten national security, public safety, or public health

• if your trip might disrupt an ongoing investigation or audit

It also tightens the timeline for filing requests. Government employees must apply well in advance: at least 10 working days before official trips, and 15 days before personal ones. No last-minute travel passes.

Also read: How the Philippine Immigration Almost Ruined My Malaysia-Singapore Trip

And it is not just for Cabinet members or famous politicians. The bill covers everyone in government. That includes national agencies, government-owned corporations, state universities, Congress, the courts, commissions, and even local governments. No exemptions.

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Officials who attempt to leave without the required travel authority will face heavy consequences:

• 6 to 12 years in jail

• a ₱500,000 to ₱2 million fine

• dismissal from service

• permanent ban from government work

And anyone who tries to help them slip out, from co-workers to private individuals, will face the same penalties.

Also read: How to Avoid Getting Offloaded by Philippine Immigration

Tulfo said the measure is simple: stop letting officials treat foreign trips as an escape hatch. With this bill, travelling abroad becomes a privilege reserved only for those with clean slates.

Ordinary Filipinos grind hard just to afford one holiday abroad. For public officials facing cases, that privilege should not even be on the table. If this bill becomes law, expect less jet-setting and more accountability from the people in power.

Featured image credit: Canva Pro