Manila, Aug. 1 -- Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Friday called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to intensify its regulatory oversight of online lending platforms, amid growing concerns that these applications are being used in connection with cybercrimes and online gambling activities.

In a statement, Villanueva said digital financial platforms - including online lending apps, e-wallets, and digital banks - must be strictly monitored to complement the government's broader crackdown on illegal online gambling, which he seeks to ban completely.

"Kapag pinagsama po ang iligal na online gambling at ang mapagsamantalang pautang ng mga online lending apps, siguradong malulugmok sa kumunoy ang ating mga kababayan (When illeg...