FOREIGN Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. on Tuesday said he would recommend the “permanent” suspension of the issuance of hajj passports once an investigation shows evidence of abuse.

During the budget hearing of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at the House of Representatives, Yasay said he was inclined to suspend the issuance of passports used for the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, especially that lawmakers are proposing to extend the validity of regular passports to 10 years from five years.