Security guard files complaint for SSS loan he did not apply for

A security guard sought assistance from the Social Security System (SSS) after his account was used for a salary loan by someone else in 2021. 

“Gumawa raw po ng account 'yung nag-loan. Di naman po ako nag-loan sabi ko. Di naman ako gumagawa ng account sa SSS...Noon ko pa po inaayos 'to, pabalik-balik na po ako sa SSS,” Aries Ibarra told Kapuso Action Man Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras” Wednesday. 

The SSS said another person applied for a salary loan using Aries’ account.

“At that time, online ang filing natin ng loan, may nagpasok sa account nya, nag-loan, si employer automatic naman in-approve, not knowing na di 'yun ang empleyado niya,” said Cielo Garo, SSS Member Communications and Assistance Department Senior Service Officer 3. 

(At that time, the filing of loans was online. So after the person applied for a loan, his employer approved it.)

“Nung malaman dahil nagkakaron sya ng deduction sa pay slip nya, dun lang sya nagpunta sa SSS para sabihin na hindi sya yun,” she said. 

(He had only known about it because of the deductions on his pay slip.)

“P-pwede siya mag-renew kung talagang qualified na siya pero ile-less din namin yung initial loan na nasa records niya,” Garo added. 

(He can renew his loan if he is qualified but we need to less the initial loans on his records.)

Aries already reported the incident to the Philippine National Police Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (PNP-CICC). He may file identity theft charges against the perpetrators if proven true. 

For its part, the SSS said they will be monitoring the case.

“Mas hinigpitan na namin ngayon. Meron tayong tinatawag na DAEM o disbursment account enrollment module kung saan dun ic-credit yung mga loan ng tao. Dati kasi, wala kaming mga IDs. Ngayon po kailangan na magpa-picture si member hawak ang dalawang valid IDs niya, close-up ang mukha niya bago i-approve 'yun,” said Garo. 

(We strengthened our requirements for loans. We now have a DAEM where we will credit the loans. Members are also required to submit a photo holding two valid IDs before we approve their loans.) 

The agency also issued reminders to its members.

“Maging maingat lalo na 'yung mga e-mail addresses natin. As much as possible, siguraduhin natin na na-log out talaga natin 'yung records natin,” she added.  

(Be careful, especially with our e-mails. As much as possible, make sure your records are always logged out.) — Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA Integrated News