ADVERTISEMENT
970x220
.navbar-nav.header-menu { width: 100%; justify-content: center; } .tab-menu-outers .nav-item{ width: unset; } .tab-bar-social.mt-5 { margin-top: 0 !important; } .second-header-menu { margin-top: 27px; padding: 12px 0; border-top: 1px solid #C3C1AE; border-bottom: 1px solid #C3C1AE; } .third-header-menu{ padding: 12px 0; } .bottom-header-menu { margin-right: 25px; text-decoration: none; font-family: "Canicule Display v0.3 Trial" , serif; font-weight: 500; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px; color: black; } .bottom-header-menu:hover { color: #0A58CA !important; } header .time-date-section { display: flex; align-items: end; } header .mb-header-center .align-items-center .col-3 , header .mb-header-center .align-items-center .col-6, header .top-header-container .col-md-6{ z-index: 100; } header .desktop-menu-bar li:hover a{ background: transparent; color: #2E3192 !important; } @media(max-width: 767px) { header.header.mb-header{ display:none; } .second-header-menu .justify-content-center{ justify-content: start !important; } .second-header-menu ul , .third-header-menu ul{ display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; width: 100%; } }

Philippines still on money laundering ‘gray list’

Published Feb 23, 2024 19:27 pm  |  Updated Feb 23, 2024 19:27 pm

The Philippines has again failed to get out of the “gray list” of Paris-based dirty money watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), despite progress made in complying with the required action plans on anti-money laundering (AML) and combating financing of terrorism (CFT) measures.

In a Feb. 23, 2024 (Paris time) listing of “jurisdictions under increased monitoring” or the FATF gray list with the Philippines still on it, the FATF urged the country to implement action plans as soon as possible. The original deadline given the Philippines to implement action plans was January 2023. After a year of extension or until January 2024, the country faces another 12 months  – or less – under the gray list.

The FATF however said that “the Philippines has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by identifying and investigating TF (terrorism financing) cases.”

As of Feb. 23, there are 21 countries in the gray list including the Philippines. The only other Asian country in the list is Vietnam.

During the latest FATF plenary, after assessing significant progress in resolving strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, four countries were delisted from the gray list, namely Barbados, Gibraltar, Uganda and United Arab Emirates. However, two countries were added, Namibia and Kenya.

Meanwhile, the FATF reiterated that the Philippines should work more to address its strategic deficiencies such an effective risk-based supervision of designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs). It should also show that it is using AML/CFT controls to mitigate risks associated with casino junkets; enhancing and streamlining law enforcement agencies’ access to beneficial ownership (BO) information and taking steps to ensure that BO information is accurate and up-to-date; demonstrating an increase in money laundering investigations and prosecutions in line with risk; and that it is increasing the prosecution of terrorist financing cases.

The central bank-led Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the country’s financial intelligence unit, said early Saturday, Feb. 24, that while the Philippines remains on the FATF gray list, it has acknowledged the government’s accomplishments related to terrorism financing identification and investigation during its last round of progress report that AMLC submitted to the FATF Asia Pacific Group (APG) last Jan. 16.

AMLC: Rising child porn poses risks to money laundering

AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Matthew M. David said that despite being retained on the gray list, the “government remains dedicated to strengthening the country’s position in the global fight against financial crimes.”

David pointed out that FATF has recognized progress made such as terrorism financing identification and investigation.

“This improvement in our AML/CFT regime is a strong recognition of the government’s efforts in curbing terrorism and terrorism financing incidents in the country. It also sends a positive signal to the international community on the unwavering commitment and continuous progress made by the Philippines in this front,” he said over the weekend.

David also said that a whole-of-nation approach that the government has been doing is “vital moving forward” and that AMLC is “happy that the collaborative effort among agencies in addressing areas for improvement as suggested by the FATF has been cited.”

Last month, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered concerned or relevant government agencies implementing AML/CFT measures to expedite efforts in “addressing deliverables set by FATF within the year.” Besides AMLC, the National Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing/ Counter-Proliferation Financing Coordinating Committee (NACC) makes sure there is a unified approach among relevant agencies in enforcing action plans as per the FATF requirements.

The FATF, which is a global inter-governmental body that sets AML/CFT standards, has recommended earlier to further strengthen the Philippines’ AML/CFT regime through action plans in the following areas: DNFBPs, casino junkets, beneficial ownership, money laundering and terrorism financing prosecution, and cross border declaration measures.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has noted last Tuesday that collaborative efforts have already resulted in “increased compliance among DNFBPs, mitigation of risks in casino junkets, and a more robust beneficial ownership information database.”

“The Philippines has also improved its implementation of cross-border currency declaration measures and has increased its AML/CFT investigation and prosecution. The private sector is likewise encouraged to further contribute to the shared goal by complying with relevant laws and regulations,” added the BSP. 

FATF Week commenced last Feb. 19 and its fifth plenary was conduced between Feb. 21 to 23. The plenary was attended by 200 delegates including the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations, the World Bank, INTERPOL and the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units.

The Philippines has been one of jurisdictions closely watched by FATF since June 25, 2021. As a watchlisted country, it means the Philippines is subject to increased monitoring and is required to actively work with the FATF. Failure to be removed from the gray list will have an impact on the country’s financial reputation on a global scale.

 

ADVERTISEMENT
300x250
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0 72px 0 12px; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // The two offset values // changed to 10 from 1 , 2 const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } function isNearBottom() { return window.innerHeight + window.scrollY >= document.documentElement.scrollHeight - 100; } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; // Skip if already loading if (isNearBottom()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; // Set flag to prevent multiple calls const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { loadCount++; // Increment only after successful execution }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; // Reset flag after execution }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); }); // Mutation Observer for Newly Loaded Articles const observer = new MutationObserver(() => { const articles = document.querySelectorAll(".articles-observe"); if (articles.length > 0) { observeArticles(articles); } }); observer.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true }); // Intersection Observer for Updating URL function observeArticles(articles) { const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); articles.forEach(article => intersectionObserver.observe(article)); }
.col-md-12.noPadding.col-xs-12:has(.mb-header-bottom) {padding: 0;} .bottom-footer {color: #fff;background-color: #2E3192;padding: 8px 0;} .bottom-footer .bottom-footer-menu {font-family: Inter;font-weight: 400;font-size: 12px;line-height: 16px;padding: 0px 10px !important;color: #fff !important;text-decoration: none; } .bottom-footer .container {display: flex;justify-content: space-between;align-items: center; } .bottom-footer p{font-family: "Inter";font-weight: 400;font-size: 12px;line-height: 16px;margin-bottom: 0;} .subscribe-button{position: absolute;bottom: 15%;right: 11%;} .subscribe-container {position: fixed;display: flex;align-items: center;background-color: white;height: 50px;border-radius: 50px;box-shadow: 1px 3px 8px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);width: 50px;overflow: hidden;transition: width 0.3s ease-in-out;text-decoration: none;white-space: nowrap; } .subscribe-icon {background-color: #2E3192;color: white;border-radius: 50%;width: 50px;height: 50px;display: flex;align-items: center;justify-content: center;font-size: 18px;flex-shrink: 0;transition: border-radius 0.3s ease-in-out; } .subscribe-text {font-size: 18px;font-weight: bold;color: black;margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;width: 0;visibility: hidden;opacity: 0;transition: opacity 0.3s ease, width 0.3s ease;} .subscribe-container:hover {cursor: pointer;width: 170px;} .subscribe-container:hover .subscribe-icon {border-bottom-right-radius: 0;border-top-right-radius: 0;} .subscribe-container:hover .subscribe-text {visibility: visible;opacity: 1;margin-left: 10px;margin-right: 10px;width: auto;} h6.footer-heading{ font-weight: 700; } #bottom-footer ul li { display: flex; align-items: center; } @media screen and (min-width: 767px) and (max-width: 991px) { .bottom-footer p, .bottom-footer .bottom-footer-menu{ font-size: 9px; } } @media(max-width: 767px) { .bottom-footer .container {display: block;} .bottom-footer .container .justify-content-center{margin-top: 20px !important;} .bottom-footer .container .justify-content-center .list-group{ width: 100%; display: grid; row-gap: 10px; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr; justify-content: unset; } .bottom-footer p{font-size: 10px;} .subscribe-container { width: 50px !important; overflow: hidden;} .subscribe-container:hover { width: 50px !important;} .subscribe-container .subscribe-text {display: none !important;} .subscribe-button{right: 15%;bottom:7%;} } .mb-header-bottom .header-menu:hover { color: #2E3192 !important; } @media(max-width: 400px) { .bottom-footer .container .justify-content-center .list-group{ grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; } }

Sign up by email to receive news.