On Wednesday afternoon, Justine Sy went to his BDO branch to sign documents and recover the P50,000 stolen from her account last weekend.
Sy was very happy after getting the money, but he thought about the BDO’s quitclaim requirement.
This is a document that, if signed, the victim can no longer take legal action against BDO.
“May dalawang routes kasi. It’s either mag-sign ka ng quitclaim and get your money now or second mag-sue, magdemanda. Pero mostly sa aming grupo gusto mag-sign na lang and we can get your money back fast,” he said.
But according to consumer rights advocate and former DTI undersecretary
Vic Dimagiba, the victims are at a disadvantage in the quitclaim because the amount they lost in the cyberattacks may be greater, and they will lose if only the stolen money is returned by BDO.
“Don’t sign. Victims can reserve the right to claim actual damages suffered. Example. A housing loan installment payment was due when the cybercrime happened. Payment was not made because the deposit was lost. There was default in loan payment. That can be messy. BDO should ensure that depositors are placed in a good and harmless conditions in the same situation as before the loss,” said Dimagiba, a lawyer.
BDO hack victims at disadvantage in quitclaim
On the other hand, Cecil Andres is worried because the first requirement of BDO is to sign a quitclaim with the branch of account.
Andres is now in Ilocos, far from her anch in Bacoor, Cavite.
But her branch manager helped her, and she was reimbursed as well.
But Andres is sad because they still have colleagues who have not yet received their money.
According to Andres, the thieves did not use Unionbank to take her money but GCash.
Another victim said that the cybercriminals used BPI and not Unionbank.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) director Melchor Plabasan confirmed that their surveillance showed that Unionbank was not the only one used in the cyberattacks so they can further expand their investigation.
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