Recently the Philippines has exited the money laundering grey list. The DOJ says that is because the nation has made significant strides against terror financing as well as money laundering.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1244750 |
The Department of Justice (DOJ), through its Financial Investigation and Litigation Enhancement and Prosecution Support Center (FILEPSC), has made significant strides in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of money laundering (ML) and terrorism financing (TF) cases.
In a news release on Monday, the DOJ reported that from 2020 to 2024, a total of 5,557 TF identifications have been recorded, while TF investigations has reached 1,816.
During the same period, the DOJ has received 1,031 TF information for further action, and made 71 arrests in connection with TF activities.
“The significant increase in identifications and investigations has resulted in a sharp rise in filed cases, ensuring justice is served,” it said.
The DOJ said 237 TF prosecutions have been initiated, resulting in the conviction of six accused for 114 TF counts, reinforcing the government’s commitment to holding criminals accountable.
Meanwhile, a total of 794 individuals have been accused of money laundering from 2021 to 2024.
The FILEPSC filed 264 ML cases, with 185 prosecutions in 2024 alone.
Additionally, a total of 13,799 money laundering investigations were conducted from 2021 to 2024 --with 5,821 investigations in 2024 alone.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the latest statistics reflect the DOJ’s commitment to combating financial crimes and ensuring accountability.
“The DOJ remains steadfast in its mission to combating financial crimes and ensuring that those responsible for ML and TF are brought to justice. These milestones serve as a powerful reminder that justice can be attained through perseverance, commitment and unity,” Remulla said.
“This accolade fuels our relentless pursuit for justice and vow that we will never hold back from our duties until we completely eradicate these two evils of society: money laundering and terrorism financing."
These strides have been possible because of the Anti-Terrorism Law as well as the Financial Action Task Force. The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers says these gains have been made at the cost of human rights.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/02/23/2423607/philippines-money-laundering-grey-list-exit-rooted-political-repression-lawyers |
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) has expressed concerns over the Philippines’ removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list, calling it a “pyrrhic victory” linked to political repression.
In a statement on Saturday, February 23, the NUPL criticized the FATF for congratulating the Philippines without acknowledging the “rampant misuse of counterterrorism financing laws to silence dissent and criminalize civil society.”
“The surge in fabricated terrorism financing cases, arbitrary asset freezes, and instances of financial exclusion are not 'unintended consequences' of compliance; they are deliberate tactics used to satisfy the FATF’s mandates at the cost of human rights,” the NUPL’s statement read.
The lawyer’s group also accused the government of prioritizing the approval of foreign states and financial institutions over the welfare of its own people by aggressively pursuing FATF compliance.
They cited the use of counterterrorism financing (CFT) regulations to target grassroots movements while failing to address large-scale corruption, illicit financial flows and money laundering through Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
“The state’s eagerness to prosecute trumped-up charges of financing terrorism while ignoring financial crimes committed by politically connected elites exposes the hypocrisy of this so-called victory,” the NUPL said.
The group also criticized FATF’s final remark urging the Philippines to ensure that CFT measures do not "discourage or disrupt legitimate NPO activity," calling it "hollow."
They argued that FATF’s own complicity in enabling such policies has contributed to the restriction of freedom of association, particularly the right to access financial resources.
“The very fact that FATF commends the Philippines on meeting its targets without addressing the abuse of these measures is not just disappointing— it is damning evidence that its processes lack genuine accountability and transparency,” the NUPL said.
“As long as the FATF refuses to engage with civil society, it will continue to serve as a convenient shield for governments to legitimize repression under the pretense of financial integrity,” it added.
Prior to the release of the report removing the Philippines from the grey list, the NUPL sent a report to FTAF raising concerns about the government’s CFT regulations that “are undermining civic space and fundamental freedoms.”
Of course the NUPL has been red-tagged so no one is going to listen to them.
Speaking of red tagging, former rebels are against the COMELEC's decision to not red tag without evidence.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/937717/ex-rebels-to-comelec-reconsider-anti-discrimination-resolution/story/ |
A group of alleged former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDF) on Friday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to reconsider its resolution declaring labeling groups and individuals as terrorists, dissenters, and criminals without evidence as an election offense for Eleksyon 2025.
In a five-page letter dated February 27, the Advocates for Clean Elections (ACE) questioned Comelec Resoution No. 1116, which sets the anti-discrimination and fair campaigning guidelines for the upcoming midterm polls, saying it may affect freedom of expression by “restricting discussions about individuals and organizations with ties to groups that have historically waged war against the government.”
“The resolution disproportionately protects individuals and groups who claim to be ‘victims’ of labeling, without considering that many of us - former rebels, Lumad victims, and others who suffered under the communist insurgency —are also being unfairly labeled as paid hacks, state agents, and red-taggers when we speak out,” the letter read.
“Why is it acceptable for them to accuse us, but not for us to present facts about their connections? Instead of promoting fair and open discourse, the subject resolution silences one side of the conversation while giving the other a free pass,” they added.
There was no mention of “red-tagging” under Comelec Resolution No. 1116 but the poll body defined labeling as "the act of categorizing, classifying, labeling, branding, associating, naming, and accusing individuals, groups and/or organizations as 'vocal dissenters' and activists or subversive group sympathizers or terrorists, or belonging to a criminal group/syndicate without evidence.”
Advocates for Clean Elections, or ACE, is a new group formed in January.
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| http://samarchronicle.com/election-2025/advocates-for-clean-elections-ace-launches-campaign-for-honest-and-peaceful-2025-elections/ |
A new coalition of civil society groups advocating for clean, transparent, and violence-free elections was formally launched on Tuesday, January 21, at Hotel De Fidez in Tacloban City.
The non-profit alliance, named Advocates for Clean Elections (ACE), is spearheaded by church workers and faith-based leaders, with a mission to ensure the integrity of the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
During the press conference that followed the launch, ACE outlined its plans to serve as a key hub for voter education, electoral monitoring, and advocacy for ethical and peaceful electoral processes.
Rev. Nathaniel Anas, chairman of ACE, explained that the organization is composed of individuals from diverse sectors of society, including church workers, peace advocates, former rebels, youth leaders, industrial workers, urban poor representatives, LGBTQIA+ advocates, women, and farmers.
“This inclusive composition reflects ACE’s commitment to fostering a truly representative movement, one that upholds the values of democracy, justice, and fairness for all Filipinos,” Rev. Anas said.
ACE’s initiatives will include a variety of programs such as voter education workshops, community outreach campaigns, and electoral monitoring efforts. The group also aims to tackle the spread of fake news and political disinformation, advocate for policies that support fair elections, and address the growing threat of insurgency and private armed groups (PAGs) during election periods.
Who is this group? Who is funding them? Why are the advocating against red-tagging? Perhaps they really are "paid hacks, state agents, and red-taggers."
Another NPA leader has been neutralized.
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| https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/former-npa-leader-arrested-in-paquibato-firearms-and-explosives-seized/ |
A FORMER member of the communist terrorist group (CTG) and a regional-level most wanted person was arrested in Paquibato District, Davao City, on Feb. 23, 2025, during a joint police operation.
The Davao City Police Office identified him as alias Larry who was apprehended by the Paquibato Police Station 7, 13th Special Action Company, the 1st Civil Military Force Company, and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 1105th.
The joint operatives served the search warrant and four counts of arrest warrants against the suspect at approximately 6:45 a.m.
Initially, authorities searched Larry’s residence in Purok Upper Bintuin, Barangay Fatima, but he was not there.
During the search, conducted in the presence of his brother and sister-in-law, police recovered a defaced homemade shotgun, a camouflage chest bag containing an Armscor .38 caliber revolver, and two MK2 grenades.
Larry was later apprehended at his third residence in the same area, near the boundary of Barangay Fatima Proper.
He was arrested based on the following warrants: arson (Criminal Case No. R-DVO-19-02668-CR), murder (Criminal Case No. 66,822.10), grave threats (Criminal Case No. R-DVO-19-02603-CR), and homicide (Criminal Case No. R-DVO-22-00646-CR).
During the arrest, police also recovered a .45 caliber Federal 1911 A1 pistol with a loaded magazine from Larry’s possession.
Larry was a former member of Pulang Bagani Command 1 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee. The seized firearms and explosives have been turned over to the authorities for further investigation.
Well, former leader. And he was arrested.
The National Amnesty Commission has announced a "record breaking" number of applicants.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/26/nac-logs-record-breaking-amnesty-intake |
The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) announced Wednesday, Feb. 26, that it has received and processed 127 amnesty applications from former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the highest intake recorded to date.
The NAC said that 104 applications came from members of the MILF while 23 were from the MNLF.
“This intake bumped the total number of received applications to 517 and 297 for the MILF and MNLF, respectively,” the NAC said.
President Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 404 on Nov. 22, 2023 which granted amnesty to former rebels and insurgents who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and Special Penal laws in furtherance of their political beliefs.
The deadline for the submission of amnesty applications is in March 2026.
These numbers are all MILF and MNLF members. No NPA rebels are included.
