DOJ highlights efforts amid PH exit from FATF grey list

Following the removal of the Philippines from the so-called anti-dirty money grey list, the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said the government conducted 1,816 investigations on terrorism financing and 13,799 on money laundering over the past years.

According to the DOJ, the terrorism financing investigations were conducted from 2020 to 2024 while the money laundering investigations were conducted from 2021 to 2024.

From 2020 to 2024, 71 arrests were made in connection with terrorism financing activities while 237 terrorism financing prosecutions were initiated, according to the DOJ.

It said six accused were also convicted of 114 counts of terrorism financing.

Meanwhile, the DOJ said that 794 individuals have been accused of money laundering from 2021 to 2024.

It added that 264 cases were filed with the Financial Investigation and Litigation Enhancement and Prosecution Support Center (FILEPSC).

The DOJ said that this demonstrated the department’s commitment to combating financial crimes and ensuring accountability. 

"These milestones serve as a powerful reminder that justice can be attained through perseverance, commitment and unity,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a statement.

“This accolade fuels our relentless pursuit for justice and vow that we will never hold back from our duties until we completely eradicate these two evils of society: money laundering and terrorism financing," he added.

Over the weekend, the  Paris-based Financial Action Task Force announced that the Philippines is no longer among the countries under the watch of an international body for money laundering and countering financing of terrorism.

The Philippines was included in the FATF grey list in June 2021.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who chairs National Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing/Counter-Proliferation Financing Coordinating Committee (NACC) said that “this recognition affirms that the Philippines’ AML/CTF/CPF framework aligns with global standards.”—AOL, GMA Integrated News