Can you go to jail for debt in the Philippines?
Andrew Campbell
Updated on February 05, 2026
The short answer to this question is No. The Bill of Rights (Art. III, Sec. 20 ) of the 1987 Charter expressly states that “No person shall be imprisoned for debt…” This is true for credit card debts as well as other personal debts.
What will happen if you don’t pay your credit card Philippines?
Consequences of not paying your credit card debt in the Philippines. The remaining balance that you did not pay for will be carried over to the following month. In addition, your bank will apply an interest fee onto your unpaid balance.
What happens to unpaid credit card debt if you move abroad?
If you move abroad with unpaid credit card debt, your creditors may send you to collections or file a lawsuit against you. Letting credit card debt go unpaid will also do significant damage to your credit score. Credit card debt usually cannot be recouped outside of the country.
What happens if I don’t pay my credit card bill and leave the country?
Debt collectors are still entitled to seek payment for your debt even if you leave the country. This means that they can file a lawsuit against you and can go after any assets that you leave behind. If you leave the country, your credit card history will not follow you.
Can you be imprisoned for not paying debt in the Philippines?
As explicitly stated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution under Section 20 of Article III, no one shall be imprisoned due to debt, so you don’t need to worry about debt collectors threatening you that they will send out the police to arrest you tomorrow.
What happens to credit card debt in the Philippines?
Unpaid credit card debt will hurt your credit score, as well as your chances of loan and credit card approval in the future. Filipinos with unsettled credit card debt won’t get jailed because unpaid debts are regarded only as a civil and not a criminal offense.
Why are Filipinos afraid to get a credit card?
Some Filipinos are afraid to get a credit card because they might go to jail when they can’t pay off their credit card debt. But the truth is, unpaid debt is considered a civil liability, not criminal. Nobody has ever been jailed for unpaid credit card bills.
What happens if you don’t repay a loan in the UAE?
If you are unable to or lax with the repayment of your credit card or other loans, then it could really be bothersome in the long run and if you are in the UAE, then you would have a really tough time. When a person applies for a credit card in the UAE, the issuing banks take blank cheques as an assurance for repayment of their loans.
Are there any Filipinos in the UAE with debt?
Debt is one of the top five issues affecting Filipinos in the UAE, according to officials. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila has twice issued an advisory warning Filipinos against applying for loans and using credit cards that they cannot pay.