MANILA – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian will seek an inquiry into the proliferation of loan sharks and other online lending schemes that are not under the supervision of local regulators amid the health pandemic.
The senator said his office continues to receive complaints from victims of online lending companies and lending applications.
The majority of the complaints claimed to have suffered various forms of grave threats, intimidation, and public shaming from debt collections.
“Dahil sa marahas na pamamaraan nila ng paniningil, may mga biktimang nabalitang nag-suicide at marami na rin umano ang nakararanas ng death threats,” he said.
“Magsilbing aral din sana ito sa mga naghahanap ng mapag-uutangan nang mabilis. Dapat marunong silang kumilatis kung kaduda-duda ang pamamaraan ng pagpapautang ng isang kumpanya,” he added.
Banks and financial institutions under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas are prohibited from employing “unfair collection practices.”
This includes the use of the threat of violence or criminal means, use of obscenities, disclosure of names failing to pay debts, threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken, false representation, and contacting the cardholder at unreasonable and inconvenient times.
For his part, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 1366 which prohibits debt collectors from harassing or threatening the debtor and his or her family.(GMA News)
