Philippines DFA defends visa issuance authority

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has formally rejected calls from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla to strip the agency of its visa issuance powers. The DFA denied allegations that it has transformed visa processing into a commercial operation, stating that such remarks unfairly malign the reputation of the Philippine Foreign Service.

In response to Remulla’s suggestion that visa processing should be transferred to the Department of Justice or handled entirely by private providers like VFS Global, the DFA cited the Administrative Code of 1987 and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations as the legal basis for its mandate. The department emphasized that while third-party providers may assist with administrative intake, the final authority to approve or deny visas remains a substantive consular function requiring official judgment by Philippine embassies and consulates.