Pag-IBIG blacklists borrowers who helped Globe Asiatique in ‘scam’

Members of state-owned Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) who allegedly helped Delfin Lee's Globe Asiatique in perpetrating an alleged housing scam will not be charged in court but they would no longer be allowed to borrow money from the lending institution.

Lawyer Darlene Marie Berberabe, chief executive officer and Pag-IBIG president, said these borrowers have been disqualified from borrowing from Pag-IBIG again.

"They have been blacklisted. They will never have the right to avail of loan," she said in a news forum in Manila on Monday.

"Yung pagkakaso sa mga bogus borrowers [ay] hindi na namin pagtutuunan ng pansin. We were more into investigating the Pag-IBIG fund, who were the officers involved, studying the project and alin ang dapat alisin," said Berberabe.

Lee, who was arrested two weeks ago, is facing syndicated estafa charges in connection with the alleged scam — an accusation he vehemently denied.

Appeals are welcome

During the forum, Berberabe said she cannot give the exact number of affected members, but added those whose names have been used by Globe Asiatique without their knowledge can still appeal their case.

"Pag ikaw blacklisted, pwedeng idulog ang case and we will review it. Kung ginamit lang pangalan we will also have room for reconsideration," she said.

"Pero sa iba na may testigo na pinagamit yung pangalan, ibang kaso yun. Unclean hands ka rin. Alam mo na nga na gagamitin tapos pumayag ka pa," Berberabe added.

She said they have witnesses that said some of the borrowers were paid P5,000 by Globe Asiatique to secure a housing loan from Pag-IBIG.

Some 10,000 Pag-IBIG members have a loan to get a unit of Globe Asiatique in Xevera-Mabalacat, Xevera-Bacolor and Samira.

Of the number, only 40 percent are real borrowers. A fourth of the 40 percent are paying Pag-IBIG while the others say they have paid the full amount to Globe Asiatique.

Reforms

To prevent a similar scam from happening again, the Pag-IBIG head said they implemented reforms and removed programs that are vulnerable to abuse.

Berberabe said they are now implementing a pre-inspection and pre-validation before releasing a loan and the borrower should personally come to their office to verify his identity.

In the past, Pag-IBIG delegated the task of evaluating and checking the borrowers and approve the loan to the "developers with good track record" with the lending agency doing the post-validation.

"Pag-IBIG is now the one evaluating, checking the member. Marami kaming natatanggap na reklamo na mabagal at mahigpit ang Pag-IBIG ngayon pero we felt na yun ang tamang gawin, yun talaga ang responsibility ng isang lender," Berberabe said.

A stricter borrower evaluation system is also in place, she said.

"We will ask for information if you are a high-risk or low-risk borrower and check your credit history," Berberabe said.

Pag-IBIG has also removed the buy-back guarantee arrangement with developers which allowed the latter to put a replacement borrower in case the first borrower fails to pay.

"It is good on paper but prone to abuse," admitted Berberabe, adding they have also adjusted the loan to value ratio down to 80 percent for loans P1.25 million and up.

"Halimbawa kung ang appraised value [ng property] ay P1 million, wag kang mag-release ng P1 million. P800,000 ang ipahiram mo para may stake yung humihiram, para mahirapan siyang iwan yung utang," she said.

Berberabe said they are in the process of transferring the land titles used in the alleged scam to Pag-IBIG.

"3,000 titles are already on our name and ready for disposal. Kailangang dumaan sa other government agencies, sa pagbayad ng tax sa BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) at paglipat ng pangalan sa Registry of Deeds," she said.

Recover losses