NBI, PAOCC, raid office of online lending shark who has allegedly been harassing customers

• A joint NBI-PAOCC operation on July 15, 2025, successfully raided the Pasig City office of "Pondo Peso," an online lending app accused of widespread harassment.

• Authorities had received more than 15,000 complaints against "Pondo Peso" for alleged aggressive and intimidating collection tactics, including threats and public shaming.

• Operatives seized numerous laptops, mobile phones, servers for SMS blasting, and registered SIM cards, all suspected to be used in the app's illicit harassment operations.

• The raid signifies an intensified government effort to combat illegal online lending apps that exploit borrowers with high interest rates and unethical collection practices, with potential charges under cybercrime and data privacy laws.

A joint operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, successfully raided the office of an online lending application identified as "Pondo Peso" in Pasig City.

The crackdown comes amid a surge of complaints detailing alleged harassment and intimidation tactics employed against clients who struggle to repay their loans.

Authorities have revealed that the online lending platform is suspected of engaging in illicit practices, with more than 15,000 complaints already received by various government agencies from distressed borrowers.

These grievances paint a disturbing picture of aggressive collection methods that reportedly involve public shaming and severe threats.

According to PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, the agency has been closely monitoring numerous online lending applications due to their predatory schemes and unethical collection practices.

The "Pondo Peso" app, in particular, drew the attention of law enforcement due to the sheer volume and severity of complaints against it.

Borrowers allege that when they fail to meet repayment deadlines, the app's collectors resort to sending malicious and threatening messages, not only to the borrowers themselves but also to their personal contacts, including family members, friends, and even employers.

Some tactics reportedly involve manipulating contact lists and threatening to expose borrowers' financial difficulties on social media platforms, infringing upon privacy rights and causing significant distress.

During the raid on the Pasig City office, operatives confiscated a range of electronic devices and equipment suspected of being integral to the app's operations.

Among the items seized were numerous laptops and mobile phones, which were allegedly used by call center agents to conduct the harassing communications.

Also found were servers, believed to be utilized for SMS blast campaigns—a method for sending bulk messages to thousands of contacts simultaneously—and a large number of registered SIM cards.

These SIM cards are crucial for anonymously sending threats and spam messages, complicating efforts to trace the origin of the harassment.

Around 70 individuals present at the office during the raid were brought in for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

The operation underscores the government's escalating efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal online lending apps that prey on financially vulnerable individuals.

These applications often attract borrowers with seemingly easy access to funds but then trap them with exorbitant interest rates and unreasonably short repayment periods.

When borrowers inevitably default, they are subjected to relentless and often illegal collection practices.

The operators and individuals involved in such schemes could face serious legal repercussions, including charges related to violations of the Cybercrime Prevention Act, the Data Privacy Act, and potentially even syndicated estafa, given the organized nature and scale of the alleged fraudulent activities.

Authorities urge the public to exercise extreme caution when considering online loan applications and to only transact with lending institutions that are duly registered and regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The NBI and PAOCC affirm their commitment to continue their crackdown on these predatory lending operations to protect Filipino consumers from financial exploitation and psychological torment.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, an 8-month-old baby died after being thrown from a tricycle that collided with a skidding motorcycle in Barangay Sulangan, Dumangas, Iloilo. CCTV footage showed the motorcycle suddenly falling and crashing into the oncoming tricycle, causing both vehicles to overturn. The baby, who was being held by his uncle, fell during the crash and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The 15-year-old motorcycle rider was treated and turned over to the MSWDO, while police continue discussing possible legal action with the baby’s family.

Still in other news, both the driver and helper of a delivery van died instantly after their vehicle crashed into a tree in Tagkawayan, Quezon, on Tuesday morning. The Tagkawayan Municipal Police Station reported that the delivery van's driver lost control while on a downhill section of Quirino Highway, leading to the fatal collision. The delivery van was en route to Bicol from Manila, transporting detergent soap, when the accident occurred. The impact with the tree severely wrecked the van and scattered its cargo, though no other individuals or vehicles were involved in the accident.

Source: KAMI.com.gh