Tag: AMLC

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AMLC: Lacson, Gatchalian Budget Boost Allowed Us to Integrate AI vs Money Laundering

A P162.9-million boost in its 2026 budget, facilitated by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson and then Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian, helped the Anti-Money Laundering Council integrate artificial intelligence in its anti-money laundering efforts this year.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor and AMLC Chairman Eli Remolona Jr. said this Thursday, nearly a year after Blue Ribbon hearings on the flood control scandal highlighted gaps in the country’s anti-money laundering efforts amid massive cash transactions involving contractors.

In Filipino: AMLC: Dagdag-Pondo nina Lacson, Gatchalian Malaking Tulong sa Kakayahang Gumamit ng AI vs Money Laundering

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Lacson: No Such Thing as ‘Unusual’ Transactions Under AMLA, Only Covered or Suspicious Ones

The Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) recognizes only two categories of reportable transactions – covered or suspicious – and does not define an “unusual” transaction, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson made the clarification during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte after former Land Bank of the Philippines branch manager Nenita Camposano described as “unusual” a P37.5-million cash withdrawal from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) account.

Camposano, the prosecution’s second witness for Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, had noted that not all “unusual” transactions are flagged as suspicious or reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

“So wala hong (kakaiba). Suspicious lang, wala ang middle. It’s either you categorize it into covered or suspicious (So there’s no ‘unusual’ transaction. It’s either you categorize it into covered or suspicious transaction),” Lacson said.

In Filipino: Lacson: Walang ‘Unusual’ na Transaksyon sa Ilalim ng AMLA, Covered o Suspicious Lang

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Lacson Bill Arms AMLC to Counter Evolving Corruption Schemes

The complex financial crimes exposed in the investigation into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects have prompted Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson to file a bill further strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Senate Bill 1557, which Lacson filed on Wednesday, gives the AMLC additional powers while widening the scope of covered persons and updating the list of predicate offenses to money laundering.

“Recent corruption issues have highlighted the complexities of financial crimes. Updating the AMLA to meet the requirements of the times would also prevent us from being placed in the FATF Greylist again,” Lacson said in his bill, noting that the Philippines will be subjected to the FATF’s fifth round of global mutual evaluations in 2027.

In Filipino: Panukalang Batas ni Lacson, Dadagdagan ang Ngipin ng AMLC vs Korapsyon

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Lacson Intervention Leads to Restoration of AMLC’s 2026 Budget

Following the intervention by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, the Senate finance committee has restored the proposed budget of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for 2026 to P333 million.

Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian informed Lacson that the AMLC’s budget was restored to P333 million in the Senate version of the budget bill, from the P170.161 million allotted for it in the National Expenditure Program.

“We granted the request of AMLC upon your recommendation during the budget deliberations. Remember, you strongly recommended to increase the budget of AMLC considering what’s happening right now. So the new budget of AMLC is P333 million,” Gatchalian said, after Lacson inquired about the restoration of the AMLC’s budget during the deliberation of the agency’s 2026 budget Monday.

“Thank you, Mr. President,” Lacson replied.

In Filipino: Sa Tulong ni Lacson, ‘Restored’ ang 2026 Budget ng AMLC

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Lacson to Help Augment AMLC’s ‘Crumb-Sized’ Budget for 2026

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

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