Marcos orders gov’t agencies to back crafting of PH anti-dirty money strategy

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered relevant government agencies to support the drafting of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism / Proliferation Financing Strategy (NACS) for 2026–2030.

In Memorandum Circular 113 dated February 12 and published on the Official Gazette, Marcos tasked the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to “provide technical and administrative support, issue timelines, and monitor compliance of concerned government agencies and instrumentalities in drafting the NACS 2026–2030.”

“The heads of concerned government agencies and instrumentalities are hereby directed, and heads of LGUs are hereby encouraged, to ensure that their institutional action plans for the NACS 2026–2030 are aligned with their respective agency resources, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations,” the directive added.

The issuance also urged government agencies, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and local government units (LGUs), to fully support the AMLC and actively participate in drafting the updated national strategy against money laundering and counter-terrorism.

The Philippines previously conducted its Third National Risk Assessment (NRA) covering 2021 to 2024 to identify priority threats and vulnerabilities related to money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing.

The assessment also sought to recommend risk-based actions for incorporation into the national strategy.

Updating the NACS is critical as the country prepares for its Fourth Mutual Evaluation by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) in 2027.

The evaluation will assess the Philippines’ technical compliance with the 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and its effectiveness across 11 immediate outcomes.

A FATF Standards Technical Compliance Gap Analysis is also underway to ensure that the country’s anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism and proliferation financing framework meets international standards and is ready for the 2027 APG Mutual Evaluation.

Earlier, the FATF urged the Philippines to continue collaborating with the APG to sustain its improvements in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing system.

In early February, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Eli Remolona Jr. said the country is working to avoid a return to the FATF’s anti-dirty money “grey list” of countries under increased monitoring

This is amid concerns over corruption and the flood control mess.

The Philippines exited the grey list in 2025 – four years since it was included in 2021 – after it demonstrated compliance with its action plan that included measures to address money laundering and terrorism financing. — JMA, GMA Integrated News