THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday, Mar. 17, stepped up initiatives to combat abusive online lending platforms by going after operators who harass borrowers, invade privacy, and violate cybercrime laws.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the move came as a response to the alarming surge of over 47,400 complaints against abusive online lending applications since 2024.
He said the victims reported threatening messages, public shaming, and unauthorized access to their contact lists.
“We documented cases of manipulated photos to humiliate and scare their borrowers. This is not acceptable and this kind of wrongdoing clearly needs police action,” said Nartatez.
“The operation of a business must not include harassing and humiliating people. Only thugs and criminal syndicates do that,” he added.
According to former PNP chief-turned Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) executive director Benjamin Acorda, his office received 47,446 complaints against companies operating online lending apps for allegedly abusive behavior between August 2024 and January 2026.
“Based on PAOCC statistics from August 2024 to January 31, 2026, there were 47,446 complaints in relation to anti-lending applications and what is also painful is that most of our countrymen there are reports of depression not knowing how to pay because there are some instances that instead of paying off the debt, it seems like the debt is growing,” Acorda said during a press conference after the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“It’s rampant to the point that our countrymen don’t know where they can turn for help. We really need those online lending applications because it promotes financial inclusivity but our countrymen are losing their trust because of what the illegals are doing, especially even some registered ones who are doing unfair, harmful collection processes,” Acorda said.
“So that’s what we are trying to address so to answer your question, it’s rampant and we really need to crack down on it so that our countrymen’s trust in the legitimate lending applications that can help our countrymen in times when we really need it is restored,” CICC executive director and Undersecretary Renato Paraiso said.
Nartatez directed the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to arrest and sue operators involved in online harassment, data privacy violations, and other cybercrime-related offenses. Vince Lopez
He said the PNP-ACG has coordinated with PAOCC, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) to determine those who violate the laws.
Meanwhile, Nartatez urged the public to remain vigilant and borrow only from SEC-registered lenders.
For those who experience harassment from online lending firms, the Nartatez advised them to report the incident to the nearest police station.
“Do not panic and do not engage with the threats. Save screenshots, messages, at whatever you have. Immediately report the incident to the nearest police station or the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group,” he said.
