National Privacy Commission

Dear Cherry Ann Tarcena,

Greetings from the National Privacy Commission (NPC)!

Thank you for your request dated 16 October 2023 at 06:39 P.M. under Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016, on Freedom of Information (FOI) in the Executive Branch.

Your request

You want to investigate an online lending app for alleged harassment, threats, and unauthorized access to your contacts.

Response to your request

While we aim to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, your inquiry is not a valid FOI request but a complaint to which the filing should follow our process under the NPC Citizen’s Charter.

Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016, provides for the guidelines on full public disclosure and transparency in the public service which covers only access to information, official records, public records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development.

In this regard, complaints and request for clarification on data privacy violations should follow the guidelines provided for in the Citizen’s Charter of our agency, which you may access through this link: https://www.privacy.gov.ph/citizens-charter/filing-a-complaint/

Furthermore, to address your concern regarding alleged threats and harassment, you may also consider to seek assistance from the following agencies listed below:

1. Unfair Debt Collection Practices - Securities and Exchange Commission  

Harassment (Section 1, SEC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 2019) 

Corporate Governance and Finance Department   

E-mail Address: cgfd@sec.gov.ph   
Telephone Number: +63 (8) 818-7264

Financing and Lending Companies Division

E-mail Address: flcd_complaints@sec.gov.ph
Telephone Number: +63 (8) 818-5990

2. Other forms of Harassments/Threats/Fraud/Scam   
NBI Cybercrime Division   

E-mail Address: ccd@nbi.gov.ph   
Telephone Number: +63 (8) 562-6228

PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group   

E-mail Address: acg@pnp.gov.ph & pnpcacgfu@gmail.com   
Telephone Number: +63 (8) 723-0401 local 7491

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to Privacy Commissioner and Chairman Atty. John Henry D. Naga at info@privacy.gov.ph. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you about the result within 30 calendar days from the date we receive your review request.

Thank you.

Respectfully,
https://www.foi.gov.ph/help
FOI Officer