AMLC to decide on freezing of Duterte assets -Palace

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) will determine whether to freeze the financial assets of former President Rodrigo Duterte should the International Criminal Court (ICC) request it, according to Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro.

The ICC previously stated in an explainer video that it could order the freezing of an accused's assets following a conviction, as these assets may be used for victim reparations.

“Malamang ito po ay ituturo natin sa AMLC. Tandaan po natin kapag may kaso po ng plunder – isasantabi ko muna po iyong ICC – when it comes to freezing of assets, mayroon na pong naisampang kaso si [former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV] na plunder against  former President Duterte and Senator Bong Go. Dapat noon pa lang po sana inaral na ng AMLC kung dapat i-freeze because the case is plunder,” Castro said.

(We will leave this to the AMLC. Remember, in cases of plunder—setting aside the ICC for now—there is already a plunder case filed by [former Senator Antonio Trillanes] against former President Duterte and Senator Bong Go. The AMLC should have studied freezing these assets back then because the case is plunder.)

Trillanes filed two plunder cases against Duterte and Go in July and August 2024 involving various government projects during Duterte's presidency.

“Kung ito po ay magkakaroon man ng issue [dahil sa nakasampang kaso ng plunder] o magbibigay ng order ang ICC [para i-freeze ang assests]... ang ituturo po natin, ibibigay po natin ito dapat sa AMLC kung kinakailangan po,” Castro added.

(If this plunder case becomes an issue or if the ICC issues an order to freeze the assets, we will direct the matter to the AMLC if necessary.)

When asked if this constituted cooperation with the ICC, Castro clarified that the AMLC had full authority to decide on such requests.

“We’ll leave it AMLC. Ang AMLC walang sinisino,” Castro said.

(We’ll leave it to the AMLC. The AMLC shows no bias.)

“Kung kinakailangan po para po mabigyan ng reparation, damages kung sinuman ang masasabing nabiktima, then, kailangan pong ibigay ang hustisya,” she added.

(If reparations or damages are required to provide justice to the victims, then justice must be served.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News