National Privacy Commission

Dear Jozzabelle Santillano,

Greetings from the National Privacy Commission (NPC)!

Thank you for your request dated 14 August 2023 at 02:35 P.M. under Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016, on Freedom of Information (FOI) in the Executive Branch.

Your request

You requested to trace and block a number due to alleged harassment of an online lending app.

Response to your request

While we aim to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, your inquiry is not a valid FOI request. Please be advised that the mandate of the NPC is to administer and implement the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and to monitor and ensure compliance of the country with international standards set for data protection. Therefore, tracing and blocking a number fall beyond the scope of NPC’s mandate and authority.

However, if you still wish to file a complaint for violations of your rights under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, please refer to the guidelines provided 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 harassment, you may also consider to seek assistance from the following agencies listed below:
   
1. Unfair Debt Collection Practices - Securities and Exchange Commission  

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

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