Online lending app hub raided; 168 arrested

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 168 Filipinos were rounded up after authorities raided an online lending application hub in Pasig City yesterday.

Joint teams from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) swooped down on three rooms of a commercial building along ADB Avenue at past 2 p.m.

PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz said the raid was carried out after the online lending firm threatened on social media borrowers who fail to pay on time.

Authorities seized pre-registered SIM or subscriber identity module cards at the workstations of the employees.

The raiding team also discovered threatening messages on some of the computers, which would be sent to loan borrowers.

Cruz said they have received at least 15,000 complaints since the PAOCC intensified efforts against abusive online lending apps.

“Two weeks ago, we received a report that someone committed suicide after being threatened and humiliated,” Cruz told reporters.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said they would probe the employees to determine the extent of their liability.

Authorities are eyeing cases against the suspects for violating Republic Act 10173, the Data Privacy Act, and RA 11934, the SIM Registration Law.