Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson will help the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and at least three other agencies get the funding they need to fight money laundering and corruption.
At the hearing of the Committee on Finance tackling the proposed budgets of the four agencies, Lacson sought the capacity building particularly of the AMLC, even as he lamented they are getting “crumbs” in the NEP.
“The agencies in front of us, they are recipients of ‘crumbs’ in the budget, at least in the NEP,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino at the hearing that also tackled the proposed 2026 budgets of the Anti-Red Tape Authority, Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations and Philippine Competition Commission.
In Filipino: Lacson, Tutulong Palakasin ang ‘Latak’ na Badyet ng AMLC para sa 2026
He noted the AMLC submitted to the Department of Budget and Management a proposed budget of P333.1 million for 2026, but had only P170.161 million in recommended appropriations under the NEP.
Among the programs that suffered cuts in the AMLC’s proposed 2026 budget was the maintenance and enhancement of AMLC cybersecurity and database, from a proposed P125.56 million to P93.010 million in the NEP (cut of P32.55 million).
Suffering a cut as well was the AMLC’s program for efficient and effective prosecution of money laundering and and terrorist financing cases, from a proposed P55.639 million to P22.083 million in the NEP (slashed P33.616 million).
AMLC executive director Matthew David explained that they need at least P32.55 million more for information and communications technology (ICT) software “to assist our investigators in investigating virtual assets that are part of our investigation of money laundering and terrorism.”
“Just to highlight the need to assist agencies particularly the AMLC, the P125.56 million budget for Maintenance of ICT equipment and software is smaller than that of a single flood control program,” Lacson said.
“What will fully capacitate you so we can maximize your efficiency?” he told the AMLC representatives at the hearing.
He also said the rest of the additional requirements of the AMLC such as the restoration of the P32.55 million for the maintenance and enhancement of the AMLC cybersecurity and database; P22.399 million for the maintenance of ICT equipment and software; P33.959 million for inter-agency collaboration and domestic and international commitments with risk assessment activities, and P33.616 million for the efficient and effective prosecution of money laundering and and terrorist financing cases – are smaller than the commissions and “SOP” demanded by corrupt officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, as well as some legislator-proponents and others.
“My observation is that these amounts are smaller than the commissions and SOPs demanded by corrupt officials in the DPWH as well as some legislator-proponents, among others,” Lacson said.
“I would strongly suggest that we take a hard look at their financial positions. We can easily realign from the proposed budgets of the other agencies that are unnecessary. Rest assured Mr. Chairman and the AMLC, ARTA, GCG and others, we’ll be four square behind you. Kindly submit your position paper to justify (the added funding),” Lacson said.
Lacson stressed the importance of the AMLC in fighting money laundering and helping keep the Philippines out of the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list.
He also cited its role in acting quickly on his request to verify the aliases used by the DPWH’s “BGC Boys” in gambling away taxpayers’ money in casinos. Lacson cited the findings in his
“In fairness to the AMLC, when I submitted the names of persons and aliases they took action immediately,” he said.
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Lacson, Tutulong Palakasin ang ‘Latak’ na Badyet ng AMLC para sa 2026
Tutulong si Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson na makakuha ng sapat na pondo ang Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) at hindi bababa sa tatlong iba pang ahensya upang mapalakas ang laban kontra money laundering at korapsyon.
Sa pagdinig ng Committee on Finance hinggil sa panukalang badyet ng apat na ahensya, binigyang-diin ni Lacson ang pagpapalakas ng kapasidad lalo na ng AMLC, kahit pa nalungkot siya na “mumo (crumbs)” lamang ang natatanggap ng mga ito sa National Expenditure Program (NEP).
“The agencies in front of us, ito ang recipients ng crumbs ng budget at least sa NEP,” ani Lacson sa pagdinig na tumalakay din sa panukalang badyet para sa 2026 ng Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GCG), at Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).
Ipinunto niya na humiling ang AMLC sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ng P333.1 milyon na badyet para sa 2026, ngunit P170.161 milyon lang ang inirekomenda sa NEP.
Kabilang sa mga programang tinapyasan ay ang maintenance at pagpapahusay ng cybersecurity at database ng AMLC — mula P125.56 milyon na panukala, naging P93.010 milyon sa NEP (bawas na P32.55 milyon).
Nabawasan din ang pondo para sa programa ng AMLC sa mas mabilis at epektibong pag-usig sa mga kaso ng money laundering at terrorist financing — mula P55.639 milyon na panukala, naging P22.083 milyon sa NEP (bawas na P33.616 milyon).
Ipinaliwanag ni AMLC executive director Matthew David na kailangan nila ng karagdagang P32.55 milyon para sa ICT software “to assist our investigators in investigating virtual assets that are part of our investigation of money laundering and terrorism.”
“Just to highlight the need to assist particularly AMLC, P125.56 million (for Maintenance of ICT equipment and software) mas maliit pa ito sa isang flood control program,” ani Lacson.
“What will fully capacitate you as AMLC para ma-maximize namin ang efficiency ninyo?” dagdag niya sa mga kinatawan ng AMLC.
Dagdag ni Lacson, mas maliit pa ang kailangan ng AMLC tulad ng pag-restore ng P32.55 milyon para sa AMLC cybersecurity at database; P22.399 milyon sa pag-maintain ng ICT equipment at software; P33.959 milyon para sa “inter-agency collaboration and domestic and international commitments with risk assessment activities” at P33.616 milyon para sa pag-prosecute ng money laundering at terrorist financing cases – ay mas maliit pa sa komisyon at “SOP” sa tiwaling opisyal ng Department of Public Works and Highways, at ilang mga mambabatas na proponent ng maanomalyang proyekto.
“My observation, maliliit pa po ito kesa mga commission at SOP (na hinihingi ng tiwaling opisyal ng DPWH at ng ilang legislator-proponents),” aniya.
“I would strongly suggest that we take a hard look at their financial positions. We can easily realign from the proposed budgets of the other agencies that are unnecessary. Rest assured Mr. Chairman and the AMLC, ARTA, GCG and others, we’ll be four square behind you. Kindly submit your position paper to justify (the added funding),” dagdag ni Lacson.
Binigyang-diin ni Lacson ang kahalagahan ng AMLC sa paglaban sa money laundering at pagtulong na huwag mapasama ang Pilipinas sa grey list ng Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Binanggit niya ang mabilis na pagtugon ng AMLC sa kanyang kahilingan na beripikahin ang mga alyas na ginagamit ng “BGC Boys” ng DPWH sa pagsusugal ng pera ng bayan sa mga casino.
“In fairness to the AMLC, when I submitted the names of persons and aliases they took action immediately,” ani Lacson.
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