The case “CIA with BA” took on in its episode on Sunday, July 7 must serve as a reminder to Filipinos, especially the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
In the ‘Payong Kapatid’ segment, Cristina sought help for her sister Nancy, an OFW who joined an ‘online paluwagan,’ a popular informal savings and loan system which according to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is not against the law.
Cristina narrated that Nancy contributed 5,600 pesos per month for eight months in an online paluwagan. The agreement was to contribute for ten months. In return, Nancy was supposed to receive 30,000 pesos and a videoke set. However, when the time came for her to receive her money and appliance, the organizer claimed she had only contributed for eight months, not the required ten.
“Ke nakasulat ‘yan, ke ‘yan ay nasa Facebook o nasa isang kontrata, or salitaan lang, ‘yan ay (contractual obligation),” said Senator Alan, emphasizing that any form of agreement, written or verbal, is legally binding.
Senator Pia Cayetano stressed the importance of understanding investment terms. “Iba kasi ‘yung investment na walang pangako at iba ‘yung investment na klaro ‘yung maibabalik sa ‘yo. ‘Yon ‘yung napaka-importante, na basahin ‘yung nakasulat do’n kasi baka naikwento lang, akala niyo ‘yun ‘yung totoo tas aasahan niyo ‘yon, wala kayong mahahabol do’n ‘pag ganon.”
She also highlighted the importance of being cautious, especially when the promised returns are too good to be true: “And ang number one rule talaga is the more na malaki ‘yung pinapangako, the more na kailangang mag-ingat.”
The program pledged to ask the authorities to investigate the matter and to help Cristina and other people they know might have been victimized by the same paluwagan group to file a case.
“Sa ating mga mahal na OFWs and of course sa lahat ng hardworking Filipinos, hard-earned ‘yung pera niyo at alam naming gusto niyo lang madagdagan ng konting value ‘yung pera na kinita niyo pero talagang lahat ng klaseng scam, nandyan, at usually ang tina-target pa nito, kung hindi ‘yung mga may edad na, ‘yung mga nasa ibang bansa. We want to be of help to you but we have to do it—‘yung programa, ‘yung gobyerno—with you,” Kuya Alan said.
For his part, Boy Abunda cautioned the viewers: “Anything that sounds so easy—‘yung halimbawa napakadali, kikita ka ng sampung libo—tayo’y magduda.”
“CIA with BA” continues the legacy of the late Senator Rene Cayetano and airs every Sunday at 11pm on GMA7, with replays on GTV the following Saturday at 10:30pm.
