MANILA, April 28 -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) ordered all airlines to ensure their personnel do not deliberately tamper with passenger passports following reports of alleged "punit (rip) passport" incidents.

In a statement on Monday, DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said the order was made to airlines in a meeting last week and warned that if such incidents were proven to be true, sanctions would be imposed on both the airlines and their personnel.

"Kung may makita man tayong ganung insidente, kung may gumagawa ng ganitong kalokohan, sorry na lang (If we confirm such an incident, if somebody actually does this foolishness, be prepared to be sorry)," he said.

Last week, a Cebu Pacific passenger was denied boarding a flight bound...