Offloaded Over a Tiny Tear? John Manalo’s Thailand Trip Ends in Airport Shock
JOHN MANALO – What was supposed to be an exciting trip to Thailand turned into a frustrating ordeal for actor John Manalo after he was unexpectedly offloaded from his flight due to a minor passport issue.
Former child star John Manalo expressed disappointment after being offloaded from his flight bound for Thailand, an incident that he shared openly on social media and which quickly drew public attention.
In a Facebook post, the actor revealed that he was not allowed to board his flight due to a small tear on his passport, despite insisting that the document was still otherwise valid. “I was offloaded earlier on my way to Thailand because of a minor tear on my passport. Everything else is completely intact,” John wrote.
What made the situation more frustrating for him was the fact that he had previously used the same passport for international travel without encountering any issues. According to John, the passport had already been accepted on trips to Japan, Canada, Mexico, the United States, and Vietnam, even with the same minor tear. This left him confused as to why it suddenly became grounds for offloading.
Although deeply hurt by what happened, John said he chose not to argue with the airline staff at the airport. Still, he shared his broader frustration over the quality of Philippine passports and how easily they can be damaged. “Whether intentional or not, we’re issued passports that are so easily torn, and in the end, we’re Filipinos who suffer the consequences,” he said.
John also called for the government to consider issuing more durable passports, suggesting that they should be made of stronger materials such as polycarbonate. Because of the offloading incident, he was forced to cancel his flight bookings and deal with the loss of time, money, and effort he had already invested in planning the trip.
He further hinted at systemic issues in a pointed remark: “Kung mag-iisip ka ng masama. Parang kalsada lang sa bansa natin, bakit hindi gawing matibay? Kasi pag matibay hindi mo na kailangan magpagawa ulit. Walang pera.” He added, “Nakakaawa tayong mga Pilipino no? Ang hina na nga ng passport, ang hina pa ng kalidad.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clarified that a Philippine passport is the property of the Republic of the Philippines, and any alteration, addition, or destruction of its contents is prohibited and may lead to invalidation. The DFA emphasized that passports should not be altered or damaged since they serve as official identification documents.
If a passport is truly considered “damaged” or “mutilated,” such as having a torn data page, missing information, or an unreadable biometric chip, the holder must apply for a replacement under the DFA’s mutilated or damaged passport process. This requires submitting an Affidavit of Explanation, surrendering the damaged passport, and paying the corresponding fees, as it is treated as a new application.
Additionally, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) stated that airlines are required to ensure that passengers’ passports have not been deliberately tampered with. If there is evidence of manipulation by airline staff, sanctions or penalties may be imposed against those involved.
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