Senate Minority Floor Leader Koko Pimentel III has called on the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to strengthen its capabilities in combating large-scale money laundering operations in the country.
During a plenary debate yesterday in the Senate regarding the proposed national budget for 2025, Pimentel criticized the AMLC for focusing on smaller cases while larger transactions evade their attention.
“Hindi naman ata nagrereklamo ang Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) sa level ng ating committee report, so we wish them all the best,” Pimentel began.
“It doesn’t speak well of your agency, so do a better job.”
However, the veteran legislator emphasized, “Do a better job, basta do a better job. Kasi dapat kung may, kaya ko tinanong kung may nakasuhang maliit na tao, tapos ‘yung mga malalaki na-discover na lang dahil pumutok na ang isyu. Medyo it doesn’t speak well of your agency, so do a better job. Dapat yung nagpapasok ng bilyon huli agad.”
According to the seasoned lawmaker, the AMLC should intensify or take a more proactive approach in curbing money laundering.
“Dapat ma-detect na ng system ninyo ‘yun, whether manual or computerized. Kahit manual, dapat huli ‘yun eh. That’s my point,” the senator stressed.
“Do more with less, or to do more with what was given to you.”
Pimentel supported the agency’s budget increase while challenging the AMLC to make the most of it: “So challenge na lang po ‘yun to do more with less, or to do more with what was given to you. We understand that you have to be assisted by some automated system or computerization.”
