The Philippine Consulate General in Macau SAR has issued a strong reminder to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) not to use their passports as collateral for debts, warning that such practice is strictly prohibited under the New Philippine Passport Act (Republic Act No. 11983).
In an advisory released this September, the Consulate stressed that a Philippine passport is the property of the government and cannot be pawned, pledged, or seized by creditors. Any passport proven to have been used as collateral will be immediately canceled by the Consulate.
“Bawal gamitin ang passport bilang collateral sa utang,” the advisory read, emphasizing that violators may face 6 to 12 years of imprisonment and a fine ranging from ₱100,000 to ₱250,000. The advisory also reiterated that no creditor is allowed to take a Philippine passport as loan security.
The warning is part of a broader effort by Philippine authorities to combat illegal lending practices that exploit vulnerable OFWs abroad. Similar advisories were recently issued in Malta, Cambodia, and Hong Kong, where cases have been reported of Filipino workers being pressured into surrendering their passports to unscrupulous lenders. In Hong Kong, one case revealed a loan shark who refused to return OFW passports even after debts had been fully paid, demanding additional interest instead.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have long reminded Filipinos overseas that passports are government-owned documents that serve as proof of identity and nationality. Under Section 22 of RA 11983 and Foreign Service Circular No. 020-2019, pawning or surrendering passports is illegal and carries heavy penalties.
Filipino workers in Macau and other countries are urged to seek safer, legal financial options and to immediately report any incidents of passport pawning or confiscation to the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate. In Macau, violations can be reported through hotlines 2875 7111 or 2875 7140.
