Love-related heartbreaks, in addition to mounting financial pressure, are emerging as significant reasons behind suicides among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), government officials disclosed during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
Senator Raffy Tulfo, chair of the Senate committee on migrant workers, sounded the alarm on the rising number of suicide cases involving OFWs. He noted that there were six reported cases in 2023, five in 2024, and one already in 2025 as of April.
“That’s very alarming for me,” Tulfo said during the consultative meeting with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac identified unpaid debts and harassment from loan sharks as primary contributors. He also warned of a more serious loan scheme involving OFWs surrendering their ATM cards or account details in exchange for cash.
“It turns out their accounts are being used for money laundering that is why some of our fellow Filipinos have been arrested for it,” Cacdac said in Filipino.
OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio added that love life issues have also become a serious concern, particularly in Hong Kong. “One of the problems in Hong Kong is also related to love life. It has become an additional and serious problem for some,” he said.
This was echoed by OWWA Deputy Administrator for Operations Mary Melanio Quiño, who pointed to betrayal by spouses as a painful emotional burden for many.
“Aside from financial issues, one of the reasons why some take their own lives is love-related problems—specifically when they find out that their spouse in the Philippines has been unfaithful. The emotional pain becomes too much for them to bear,” Quiño said.
She added that while OWWA’s 1348 hotline is available for distressed OFWs, not everyone feels comfortable discussing personal matters with unfamiliar voices.
