Panfilo "Ping" Lacson 

Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidate Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has joined the chorus of personalities who are praising President Marcos for steering the country out of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) dirty money grey list.

"Commendations are in order for this administration, particularly those who worked hard to accomplish this feat," Lacson, a former senator, said in a statement Sunday, Feb. 23.

The removal of the Philippines from the list held special meaning for veteran legislator, who was also one chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Being the principal author of the Amended Anti Money Laundering Act and a longtime advocate of empowering the Philippine government to go after dirty money and punishing those responsible for having our country tagged as a haven for criminal elements involved in financial crimes and other related criminal activities, it is indeed a welcome development that after so many years since the passage of the law, we are now out of the FATF grey list," he said.

It was President Marcos who decided to outlaw Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) by the end of 2024. This, after authorities learned that POGOs had links to illegal activities, including money laundering.

POGOs proliferated in the country during the previous Duterte administration.  

President Marcos has been endorsing Lacson's candidacy as part of the administration-backed Alyansa.