Victims of online lending scams may file complaints to NBI
The National Bureau of Investigation is urging the public to ignore threats from online lending applications and instead report them to authorities.
In a radio interview with dzBB on Wednesday, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said that the agency has been receiving numerous complaints from individuals who have been harassed by online lending operators.
Santiago said that he had been targeted after he was named as a reference by a relative.
"Isang pamangkin ko nangutang, linagay akong reference. Aba pati ako tinatanong na. Hindi na lang ako sumasagot," he said. "Pagka may ganyan, wag kayong sumagot. Kasi 'pag sumagot kayo, makikita nila na positive sila. I-ignore niyo lang and then go to NBI. We will help you."
On Tuesday, the NBI, together with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the National Telecommunications Commission, raided a lending app hub in Pasig City, arresting 168 Filipino workers.
"Mga kababayan natin na naghahanap lang ng trabaho. Akala nila, they were working in a legitimate business enterprise. Yung iba akala ay call center agents sila," he said, adding that their salary is only P16,000 a month.
"Pinapagalitan sila kapag hindi sila nakakapaningil. Meron silang script kung paano manakot," he continued.
Some threats included terrifying victims with warnings of burning down their homes or kidnapping their children.
Santiago said the workers may still face charges even if they are considered victims.
"Naaawa man kami sa kanila, kailangan kasuhan namin sila, malaman nila na mali iyon. Kasi marami na kaming nahuling ganyan, porket kapwa natin Pilipino ay pinapangaralan, lumilipat lang dahil kailangan ng trabaho," he noted.
According to Santiago, no Chinese national was arrested during the raid, but one had been observed visiting the site and their systems contained Chinese characters.
“Ito nga po ay rehistrado. Dapat ang office nila ay nasa Taguig, but then nasa Pasig kami nag raid," Santiago added.
Santiago shared a case where a borrower received only P600 from a P1,000 loan, with P400 immediately deducted in fees. This borrower was asked to pay back P5,000 through weekly installments.
"Yung opisina po namin ay open at willing kaming tumulong," Santiago said. (with reports from Mark Ernest Villeza)
