AMLC executive director resigns

Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Julia Bacay-Abad on Monday announced her resignation from the agency.

"This is not a decision that was taken lightly but I believe that this is the right time for me to voluntarily relinquish my post as the Executive Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council Secretariat effective 31 January 2017," Abad said in an emailed statement.

She said her resignation comes in line with the AMLC's strategy to renew its strength under a new leadership.

"(R)ecent developments that confronted the AMLC and its Secretariat gave me the occasion to realize that, though already resilient on its own, the AMLC Secretariat will be accorded with renewed strength through a transformed strategy," she said.

"To be more effective, the direction that the AMLC Secretariat will prospectively take would have to come from a new leadership," she added.

Last month, Duterte criticized AMLC officials for allegedly being uncooperative, as documents being requested from them have been delayed.

"Hanggang ngayon, there is no report of this AMLC. You know, I am going to charge all of you, criminally. I'll count one to three and if you do not resign, I will treat you as a drug addict. You're contributing to the corruption to the country," he said in December.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II last year said the AMLC had been making it difficult for authorities to secure vital bank information in relation to the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

While the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) made the request for the documents in September, it said the AMLC only submitted the documents, said to still be incomplete, in November.

"That should have been available the following day, they (generals) were named [as protectors of drug syndicates] by President Duterte [in July] but it took until November bago nila nilabas yun," Aguirre said.

Aguirre had also asked the NBI to look into the possibility of filing obstruction of justice complaints against the AMLC.

"I am trying to ask the NBI to study if there could be a complaint to be filed (against AMLC people) because I believe, and this is my personal opinion, that there is criminal negligence on the part of some people," he said.

Asked to comment on this, Abad earlier this month said the AMLC has no issues against the President.

In her statement on Monday, Abad said she is "deeply honored and humbled" to have worked with the AMLC for more than 10 years and that her loyalty to the government remains steadfast.

"I am confident that the next Executive Director of the AMLC Secretariat will not only continue the work that we have done, but renew its strength as an institution," she said.

The AMLC is an independent body that monitors the financial system to guard against dirty money deals.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. sits as chairman of the council. Other members include the Insurance Commissioner and the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission. —ALG, GMA News