A Pinay overseas worker finally gets to sleep peacefully and wear a big smile on her face after the owner of a local agency had paid up a loan amounting to $30,000 which was previously borrowed by the agency’s staff using her name. It was such a big relief after months had passed that the Pinay helper was unable to sleep for being forced to pay the debt which she never used up.
According to the 36-year-old Pinay domestic helper from Iloilo named Emelyn Coronado, Nema Tolones, a staff of Luckyflex International Ltd had approached her and asked a favour if she can help her to borrow money from the agency as she cannot personally avail of it. Tolones pleaded to Coronado that she badly needed the money amounting to $25,000 so, Coronado gave in to her request. It was only later on that she realized she was able to put her name at risk.
On September, a collector from Public Finance had frequently called Coronado’s employer about her debt. Since then, the helper was unable to sleep because of getting worried about a loan she never really availed. She even received a letter from the financing company in December requiring her to repay the said loan.
That’s the time Coronado sought the help of a group named “OFWs in Hong Kong”. Headed by Regina de Andres, the case of the helper had been brought to the attention of Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre early in November and recommended that processing of contracts by Luckyflex be put on hold until it is able to settle the issue about the loan between Tolones and Coronado.
Later on, Sandie Ng, the owner of the agency agreed to settle the dispute between Tolones and Coronado and owed the responsibility of paying the loan balance.
Apparently, including interests and penalty charges, the $25,000 loan had run up to $31,600. But then, per Ng’s request, she was granted with a discount and had only paid $30,000.
Labatt dela Torre, Ng and Coronado then signed a settlement agreement indicating that Ng agreed to pay the loan which her staff, Tolones had availed at the expense of Coronado.
On November 15, 2017, Luckyflex International paid the loan balance at the main office of Public Finance in Central amounting to $30,000.
After the settlement, Labatt dela Torre already lifted up the suspension of the agency.
