HK police seize 1,400 OFW passports used as collateral for loan

Some 1,400 passports of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were confiscated by Hong Kong police from a lending company after they were used as collateral, a report on Unang Balita said Wednesday.

The passports were reportedly used as collateral for OFWs' loan from Overseas First Credit.

Foreign Service Circular No. 2014-99 bars the use of passport for collateral. As a consequence, the passport will be invalidated.

The report said 900 of the seized passports have already been turned over to the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong.

Owners of the passports have also contacted the Consulate, but they would have to apply for a new one.

In applying for a new passport, the OFWs will have to submit an affidavit saying that their old passport was used as a collateral for a loan. They will also be included in the watch-list of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The lending company has yet to issue a statement regarding the matter. —KBK, GMA News