DAVAO CITY (June 16) — The government has launched an intensified crackdown on abusive online lending applications (OLAs) as thousands of Filipinos report harassment, privacy violations, and exploitative collection practices.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Monday it is working with the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to target operators that threaten and harass borrowers.
The campaign follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize OLA-related cases and provide victims with justice and proper legal remedies.
“These abusive online lending operators have caused serious financial, psychological, and reputational harm to thousands of Filipinos,” said PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz. “Under the President’s directive, we are going after these groups to protect our people and bring them to justice.”
According to the PAOCC, it received over 13,000 complaints in April and May alone.
At the official launch, about 100 victims came forward to give sworn statements to the CIDG, sharing their experiences to strengthen cases against OLA operators.
PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III assured complainants of full assistance throughout the legal process.
The SEC has repeatedly warned the public against borrowing from unregistered online lenders, citing risks such as abusive collection tactics, privacy breaches, and excessive fees. The commission has already ordered the removal and blocking of multiple unlicensed OLAs.
In February, the PAOCC, working with international counterparts, successfully took down 27 administrators and 89 online scam loan pages.
“The Marcos administration has made it clear: abusive and exploitative lending will not be tolerated. We remain committed to protecting Filipino consumers, upholding financial integrity, and holding violators accountable,” Cruz said.
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
