(Eagle News)–Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday, Sept. 30, urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel the passport of the woman who allegedly buys recycled illegal drugs from “ninja cops.”
In calling for the move against Guia Gomez Castro, Drilon said she “does not intend to return to the country and face the warrants of arrest issued against her since 2002 for violation of Republic Act 6425 or the Dangerous Drugs Act.”
Drilon said Castro, who was confirmed to have left for Bangkok, Thailand via a Cebu Pacific flight, is therefore a fugitive from justice.
“The jurisprudence clarifies that mere commission of a crime and subsequent flight thereto sufficiently meets the definition of a fugitive,” Drilon said.
He said under Republic Act 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act, the foreign affairs secretary is authorized to cancel a passport “in the interest of national security” or when the holder of the passport is a fugitive from justice.”
“Hence, the DFA, to avoid miscarriage of justice and by virtue of the Philippine Passport Act, can validly and lawfully cancel her passport so we can restrict Castro’s movement, and summon her back to the country to face charges against her,” he said.
The Department of Justice has issued an immigration lookout bulletin order against Castro to monitor her flight itineraries via Interpol channels.
