AMLC failed to flag P6.1B used to build Bamban POGO -Gatchalian

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has "totally failed" in performing its mandate as it was not able to flag the entry of P6.1 billion money used for the construction of the raided POGO complex in Bamban, Tarlac.

During the Kapihan sa Senado, Gatchalian noted that the construction of Baofu Land Development Inc. complex started in 2019, yet the AMLC has failed to present a report on the entry of money for its construction four years later.

"They totally failed to perform their mandate in my opinion. Dapat 2019 pa lang nu'ng nangyayari na ito, nade-detect na nila. Ngayon 2024, dapat meron na silang report," Gatchalian said.

"Dito ako nadidismaya sa AMLC... dahil wala silang sagot kahapon. I express my disappointment to the AMLC dahil trabaho nila mahanap itong source ng money laundering e. Trabaho rin nila na malaman sino itong mga money launderers. Trabaho nila malaman kung paano nakapasok dito, sino nakatanggap, at sino nagbayad. Ngayon, parang bula e," he added.

According to Gatchalian, AMLC failed to identify the contractor that received the money, the bank where the funds were funneled, and who received the money.

"Hindi rin nila alam yon at ang sagot sa amin kahapon, pending pa ang investigation pero nangyari na ito e...2024 na ngayon 'yung perang P6.1 billion tuloy tuloy na pumasok dito 'yon, pero hindi nila na-detect," he stressed.

GMA News Online sought the comment of AMLC Executive Director Matthew David to comment on Gatchalian's remarks, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.   

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros earlier announced that they will conduct another briefing with the AMLC before they set another public hearing on the raided POGO hub in Bamban.

Gatchalian highlighted the need for stricter monitoring as he noted that the "criminal activities of POGO have already expanded into money laundering."

Gatchalian also disclosed that the contractor that built the POGO complex in Bamban was nowhere to be found, prompting him to conclude that it is a dummy company "for now."

"Gusto ko mahanap siya kasi malalaman mo kung sino ang nakatanggap ng pera at mate-trace kung sino ang mga personalidad na 'yon, pero walang mahanap. Itong sindikato na 'to napakagaling nila naitago nila sa mga awtoridad ang pagdala nitong pera," he said.

Gatchalian also disclosed that the engineer who signed the building plans of Baofu has already died, saying the timing of the latter's death "raises suspicions."

Based on the information that Gatchalian's office has gathered, the declared cause of death of the said engineer was a heart attack.

Gatchalian also revealed that the engineer's family admitted that his only role in the construction of Baofu was to sign the plan so it could be legal in the Philippines, but the design of the complex itself was made by the Chinese nationals.

If the engineer is still alive today, Gatchalian said they could have traced the contractors and the Chinese engineers who planned the construction of the POGO hub in Bamban.

The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality is currently investigating the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac.

The probe highlighted Bamban Mayor Alice Guo's alleged involvement in the establishment of the POGO hub in the town.

Gatchalian said there are concrete pieces of evidence disclosed during the executive session that support Guo's alleged ties with the Chinese criminal syndicate that operated the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac.—LDF, GMA Integrated News