Pag-IBIG chief: Safeguards in place to prevent another housing loan scam

Safeguards are already in place to prevent the repeat of the alleged Globe Asiatique housing loan scam that supposedly defrauded thousands of Filipinos, Pag-IBIG Fund chief Darlene Marie Berberabe told a Senate probe Tuesday.

Testifying before the Senate housing committee, Berberabe said the Pag-IBIG Fund has already dropped its earlier practice of "deputizing" property developers to pre-evaluate loan applicants.

“Okay sana kung pare-pareho ang pagtupad sa responsibilidad at lahat ay in good faith, pero gawa nga ng vulnerability nito, tinanggal na namin,” she said during the hearing.

The Pag-IBIG official added that her agency has already instituted a stricter "borrower evaluation system" to make sure that its funds are protected against fraud.

“Inaalam namin kung ang borrower ay may capacity to pay sa property. Talagang know your client. Kailangan i-check muna bago ma-release ang pera," Berberabe said.

In 2008, Globe Asiatique supposedly used fictitious buyers to secure loans from Pag-IBIG Fund for the Xevera housing project in Mabalacat, Pampanga.  The scheme allegedly got at least P6.6 billion in housing loan proceeds for home buyers.

Globe Asiatique founder Delfin Lee is currently detained at the Pampanga Provincial Jail over a syndicated estafa case.

Scam victims: We just want land titles

During the same hearing, victims of the alleged scam asked the Senate panel to help them achieve justice.

Evelyn Niebres, who sells street food for a living, said she lost P1.537 million to the alleged anomaly.

“Nagbayad ako ng cash pero walang titulo. Noong pumunta ako sa Pag-IBIG, hindi raw nila ako kilala... Umasa ako sa pangako ng GA [Globe Asiatique] na magbibigay ng titulo in three to six months, pero umabot na ng isang taon, wala pa rin," Niebres said during the probe.

Another victim, Mary Anne Nocum, said she had to quit her job as a call center agent to be able to focus on the cases in connection with the alleged anomaly.

“Hindi naman kami nakikipag-away. Titulo lang ang habol namin. Hustisya po at ang aming titulo," she told the Senate panel.

Lawyer Willie Rivera, Lee's counsel, for his part, insisted that his client is not liable for the alleged scam. He added that the victims should ask Pag-IBIG Fund, and not Globe Asiatique, for their land titles. — KBK, GMA News