MANILA — A senator on Wednesday slammed the "unfair debt collection practices" of some online lending companies, citing complaints from borrowers who supposedly received funeral flowers and even bullets. 

Online lending firm sinalakay dahil sa umano'y abusadong paniningil 

According to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, while some online lending companies have made it easier for borrowers to take loans, they would also harass clients who miss payments even for just a day.

“Ang mga nagpapautang na ito, ginawa nilang mas madali nga para makautang ang mga tao. Pero isang araw lang na hindi makabayad, puro pananakot na ang ginagawa nila. Pinapahiya pa sa komunidad at minsan nagpapadala pa ng korona ng patay o bala,” said Gatchalian, referring to the numerous complaints received by his office.

Iba pang nabiktima ng umano'y abusadong online lending apps lumutang

Gatchalian said there are 117 lending and financing corporations and 181 online lending apps (OLAs) registered with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The senator said it was time to pass Senate Bill No. 818 or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which aims to prohibit the use or threat of violence, obscene or profane language, and disclosure of borrowers' names.

Publiko pinag-iingat sa mga 'namamahiya' na lending apps

The senator urged the SEC to impose "more stringent requirements" on the registration of online lending companies, noting that the minimum capitalization for lending companies is only P1 million.

“Karapatan din ng mga nagpapautang na maningil pero dapat nasa wasto at tamang pamamaraan. Dapat makatarungan at legal yung pangongolekta at hindi pananakot at pagbabanta sa buhay,” he said.

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