# Jailed for debt in the Philippines? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382 "2014-04-30T19:13:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/1 "2014-04-30T19:13:38Z")
I have a friend who has a ‘girlfriend’ in the Philippines. They met thru one of his coworkers. They didn’t meet in person-they met via Facebook, about 3 weeks to a month ago. She has a 1/2 year old baby. He is about my age, mid-50s. She is unemployed. She is mid-20s, and hotter’n a firecracker, if the pictures are accurate. So, now, she is depressed. OK, says friend, I’m sorry to hear that. Why? Why? she responds. Don’t worry about it. But, since you asked, I’m out of money and they are threatening to take me to jail unless I pay my bills. Don’t want baby to be left alone. Oh, says handsomeharry. Since she is so much in love with a person 30 years older than her, go ahead and send her all your money, since this is the real thing. (Naturally, this is hh mocking his friend.) I have read the Philippine wife thread (don’t have link), and have seen some foreign bride scams, so, this could be sincere or it could be a scam. What particularly raises the red flag for me is the jail-if-debts-aren’t-paid theme. I’m expecting the large black moustachioed villain in the black cape and top hat, a la Snidely Whiplash, this thing is so by-the-book stereotypical. That’s the situation. Only time will tell whether it’s a scam or not, but, in order to help get into the ballpark of reality, my question is: Do they really jail people for debt over there? Thx, hh ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/2 "2014-04-30T21:09:10Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > I have a friend who has a ‘girlfriend’ in the Philippines. They met thru one of his coworkers. They didn’t meet in person-they met via Facebook, about 3 weeks to a month ago. > She has a 1/2 year old baby. He is about my age, mid-50s. > Thx, > hh The ‘he’ referenced above is, of course, my friend, not the baby. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/3 "2014-04-30T21:13:28Z")
They can jail you for debt in many Mid East countries (when I lived in Dubai this was not uncommon) but it does not seem so in the Philippines. > **[Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos](https://www.yahoo.com/)** > > Latest news coverage, email, free stock quotes, live scores and video are just the beginning. Discover more every day at Yahoo! ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/4 "2014-04-30T22:02:14Z")
Thank you, **Desert Nomad**. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_York](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_York](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_York)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/5 "2014-04-30T22:14:56Z")
This is a variation on “my baby needs a life saving operation” “My car was stolen, and I can’t take my sick Mother/Child/other relative, to hospital” Plus a thousand other stories designed to extract money from rich and gullible foreigners. I don’t understand how anyone could think about sending money to a person they have never met, and have only had written contact for less than a month. She could be playing the same game with another 10 or 20 guys, for all he knows. My (Filipino) wife thinks it’s a scam. ---
**Author:** ![dam0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@dam0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dam0)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/6 "2014-04-30T22:46:54Z")
This is a common tactic and pretence. Good looking women sit at computers at home fishing for men who will send them money. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/7 "2014-04-30T23:08:05Z")
> [@dam0](#): > > This is a common tactic and pretence. Good looking women sit at computers at home fishing for men who will send them money. Ugly women too - they just ‘borrow’ pics from the interweb. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/8 "2014-04-30T23:26:35Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Ugly women too - they just ‘borrow’ pics from the interweb. Same with ugly men. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/9 "2014-05-01T00:27:16Z")
I didn’t even get to the “jail for debt” part. I’d called scam at “3 weeks ago” and “money” point. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/10 "2014-05-01T01:46:59Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I didn’t even get to the “jail for debt” part. I’d called scam at “3 weeks ago” and “money” point. Ha! I thought, I \*always \*think, scam when I hear of foreign women wanting a relationship with American men who are 30 years older. I mean, what, there are no party boys in other countries who would marry a hot babe? But, this one tricked even me, because she was a friend of a co-worker of his, who seemed like a serious and respectable person. I thought that the clown may have had a shot! At least, that is, until this latest stunt allowed me to set my Mockery Phaser on kill. Thanks for all the input, guys! It is very much appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/11 "2014-05-01T01:47:02Z")
Not if it’s just a default on a legitimate debt. Yes, if it’s estafa. They say the cost of living for a foreigner retiring in the Philippines is very high. One reason is you’re likely to fall for a scamming wench. Why foreigners seem to do so consistently is a wonder. Are Filipinas really that alluring? The second reason is even worse. They say that when you marry a Filipina, you marry her entire family. Again, why that should happen is a wonder. There are rich Filipinos who marry locals, and they seem smart enough to hold on to their money. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_York](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_York](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_York)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/12 "2014-05-01T02:00:10Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > The second reason is even worse. They say that when you marry a Filipina, you marry her entire family. Again, why that should happen is a wonder. There are rich Filipinos who marry locals, and they seem smart enough to hold on to their money. I’m Lucky, my wife sends her family nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/13 "2014-05-01T02:10:58Z")
In Thailand, the stereotype is “The family’s water buffalo died back on the farm.” And yes, what the OP is describing is a common scam over in these parts. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/14 "2014-05-01T02:43:11Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_York](#): > > I’m Lucky, my wife sends her family nothing. You are extremely lucky. Debt is the glue which holds Philippines society together. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/15 "2014-05-01T02:47:04Z")
^ Not true. Credit is vastly undeveloped in the Philippines. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/16 "2014-05-01T05:29:14Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Ha! > > I thought, I \*always \*think, scam when I hear of foreign women wanting a relationship with American men who are 30 years older. I mean, what, there are no party boys in other countries who would marry a hot babe? > But, this one tricked even me, because she was a friend of a co-worker of his, who seemed like a serious and respectable person. I thought that the clown may have had a shot! > At least, that is, until this latest stunt allowed me to set my Mockery Phaser on kill. > > Thanks for all the input, guys! It is very much appreciated! I work with some Filipinos, I’ll have to ask them about the jail thing but it’s not something I’ve ever heard of. However, the one fellow here, who came from almost nothing, is constantly amazed (even after more than a decade) at how much we take money for granted in North America. Stuff we throw in the garbage - food, used clothing, used appliances, etc. - would be treasures in some areas of that country. Poor in the Philippines means _ **POOR** _. If a woman is looking for party boys, they’re plenty. They’re probably poorer than her. If she’s looking for a sugar daddy locally, she’s competing with thousands of other loose women who come cheap, cheaper, or cheapest. A middle class western guy is a rich person over there. Plus there’s the different attitude to gender roles. Reminds me of the joke I heard in Egypt about two Egyptian mothers. > [@](#): > > One mother says to the other, “I hear your daughter married an American boy. How’s that working out.” > The other replies, “It’s wonderful. He helps her with the dishes, the cooking, looking after the kids, the housework… By the way - your son married an American girl. How’s that working out?” > The first replies “It’s terrible. She expects him to help her with the dishes, the cooking, looking after the kids, the housework…” However, yes, “send me money” is a scam. Unless you’ve actually met the person, the only thing that is 100% certain is that they are asking for money, and depending on how they pick up that money, the other definite thing is geographic location. Everything else - name, gender, age, looks, circumstances - is all unknown. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/17 "2014-05-01T06:01:02Z")
Quick check of the 'net returns a massive amount of sites all agreeing that the law in the Republic of the Philippines prohibit incarceration for failure to pay a debt. On the other hand, “estafa” (fraud) is a criminal offense punishable by prison time. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to say the communication cited in the OP is clearly fraud ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_York](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_York](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_York)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/18 "2014-05-01T06:34:37Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > You are extremely lucky. Debt is the glue which holds Philippines society together. The problem is they keep having kids in the hope that one of them gets lucky, then they sponge off them till they become as poor as them. When I say my wife gives them nothing, she sent some money after the typhoon wiped them out, and if some one dies, and things like that. But not on a regular basis. They are not really poor, her sister has a large house with maids, they have a couple of cars, and most of her brothers are working. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/19 "2014-05-01T06:50:13Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_York](#): > > The problem is they keep having kids in the hope that one of them gets lucky, then they sponge off them till they become as poor as them. > When I say my wife gives them nothing, she sent some money after the typhoon wiped them out, and if some one dies, and things like that. But not on a regular basis. They are not really poor, her sister has a large house with maids, they have a couple of cars, and most of her brothers are working. Yeah, that’s not poor. My buddy mentioned areas where people live whole families in one-room shacks, and anything beyond the necessities like food and clothing is a luxury. He wants to send them 10 year old computers and old flip phones we throw out because that’s far better than what they can afford there. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382/20 "2014-05-01T12:24:57Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > ^ > Not true. Credit is vastly undeveloped in the Philippines. It should be obvious I was not talking about commercial credit. “Borrowing” among relatives and acquaintances is endemic. When you make a “loan” to a family member or in-law in the PI you will never see the money again. Come back when you know the something about Philippine culture. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jailed-for-debt-in-the-philippines/687382.md?page=2)