The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Monday took a beating from President Rodrigo Duterte, who called it “part of the garbage that he resents” for failing to do its mandate.
AMLC is mandated to implement the provisions of Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001. Its primary duty is to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of bank accounts and ensure that the Philippines shall not be used as a money laundering site for the proceeds of any unlawful activity.
However, Duterte said AMLC is making it difficult for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to gather information related to its investigation on illegal drug transactions inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“The Secretary of Justice now said you are hard to deal with. You better go to the Secretary of Justice or I will go to you,” Duterte warned in his speech during the 80th anniversary of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
For months, the DOJ has been requesting documents from the AMLC related to their investigation on various drug transactions inside the prison.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said they have received documents from AMLC but they are requesting more. To date, the DOJ is still waiting for the documents.
Among the documents are those related to the alleged bank transactions involving former Justice Secretary now Senator Leila de Lima.
Duterte questioned why AMLC failed to investigate the accusation of Senator Antonio Trillanes against him, saying that the President has P211-million in bank deposits.
“I was just curious; if I had that money, why did you not initiate an investigation for I really have none,” Duterte asked.
Under the law, AMLC can initiate its own investigations on information of suspicious bank transactions and especially those exceeding the covered transactions of P500,000. It can also file a civil forfeiture case and seek a freeze order for bank accounts.
“You failed miserably. Sinabi na ngang may P200 million, bakit hindi ninyo ako inimbestigahan so that the people would have known… My case was just simple to ask, tell the public how much is my worth in this world. You cannot tell the public because you are protecting somebody who are really into money laundering,” Duterte said.
He mentioned a family who had set up a corporation to launder P5.1-billion proceeds from drug transactions.
“You are part of the garbage that I resent to this day. Do not give me a reason for a public confrontation. Ipalabas niyo ang mali dyan. There are billions there in banks who are really being washed or just being kept there for the meantime,” he said.
“You choose, either we cooperate in this government as a republic to protect and preserve our people. Do not make it hard for us or I will make it hard for you,” Duterte warned. JE/rga
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