Manila, July 9 -- The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is intensifying its campaign to protect Filipinos from deceptive "foreign suitors" and other cross-border scams who lure them into sham or abusive marriages abroad.

In a news release on Wednesday, CFO Secretary Dante Ang II said the agency developed a watchlist mechanism to detect red flags, prevent fraudulent unions, and track repeat offenders who exploit Filipinos, especially women.

"This is more than just a campaign against fraudulent marriages, it's a fight to uphold the dignity, safety, and rights of every Filipino. No one should be treated as a commodity, especially not our women who deserve protection, respect, and empowerment," he said.

The CFO revealed that it now ac...