The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has started the crackdown on abusive online lending applications (OLAs) after receiving complaints from 86 victims.
The victims told PAOCC that they have experienced harassment, threats, and intimidation from these online lenders.
“This wave of new complaints is a clear sign that more Filipinos are choosing to assert their rights and fight back against abuse,” said PAOCC Undersecretary Gilberto DC Cruz. “We are currently handling approximately 150 formal complaints, and we expect this number to increase as more victims come forward.”
Cruz added that the agency remains firm in its goal to end these abusive practices and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
This development is part of the government’s campaign launched earlier this week to go after abusive online lenders. The campaign includes support from the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), PNP – Anti-Cybercrime Group, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and National Privacy Commission (NPC).
“PAOCC emphasized that the illegal tactics used by OLAs, including public shaming, doxing, coercive messaging, and threats, are clear violations of data privacy, lending regulations, and human dignity,” the agency said in an advisory.
The United OLA Victims Movement (UOVM), a civil society group that assists those affected by online lending harassment, was also present during the mass filing.
PAOCC said it will continue working with government agencies and civil society groups to investigate, disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute abusive online lending operations.
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