By I. Inojales | 04:30 PM October 28, 2025
TAGBILARAN CITY — A Cebu resident has sought assistance after claiming to have been scammed by a vlogger based in Tagbilaran City.
The complainant, identified as Xhu Chen Yen, reached out to local newspapers in Bohol thruFacebook to report an alleged online scam involving a content creator known as “Tats Vlog” on Facebook.
According to Yen, she was among those who joined an “iPhone Paluwagan” run by the vlogger, which has recently been the subject of controversy after several participants accused the organizer of failing to release their promised gadgets or refunds.
In response, Tats Vlog personally addressed the issue in an official statement posted on her Facebook page, apologizing to the affected members and explaining the circumstances behind the financial problem.
The vlogger admitted that she served as a “middleman” in the paluwagan scheme and had already spent a significant amount of her own money to sustain payouts. However, she said the system collapsed when several members failed to make their payments.
“I sincerely apologize. I started this iPhone paluwagan in good faith, hoping for a small profit in between,” Tats said in her statement. “But the paluwagan cannot continue if many members don’t pay. I’ve been covering the shortage from my personal funds, but it has reached the point where I can no longer sustain it.”
Tats said she and his family are now working on a plan to address the issue “with utmost urgency,” proposing to meet members by batch or group chat to decide whether to continue the scheme or proceed with refunds.
She also appealed to delinquent members to settle their dues within one week, warning that he may post the names of those who fail to pay.
“I won’t tarnish the name I have built just because of this paluwagan,” Tats added. “I am here, and I’m not going anywhere. Let’s resolve this properly.”
The incident has sparked discussions among netizens on social media, with some defending the vlogger’s transparency while others urged authorities to investigate the legality of online “paluwagan” schemes that promise gadgets or cash returns.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the case.
