Ched Rick Gatchalian

Various groups hurled mud at the gate of St. Gerrard Construction and spray-painted the words "magnanakaw," "corrupt," and "ikulong" on both the gate and the walls outside the property as a way to denounce allegedly corrupt firms and politicians behind anomalous flood control projects. Izzy Lee, ABS-CBN News

 
 

Article (news)

Palace on PH’s possible reentry to FATF grey list: ‘Too early’ to say Marcos’ corruption crackdown failed

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — It is still “too early” to judge if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s anti-corruption purge in government has failed, Malacañang said on Monday.This, following Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona’s statement that there is a risk for the Philippines to be included again in the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list.Remolona earlier said that the Philippines needs to demonstrate to the FATF that we are “doing everything we can” to combat money laundering schemes, including those involving anomalous flood control projects.“Sa ngayon ay masyado pang maaga na pag-usapan kung may failure to make these culprits liable for their acts,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/13/marcos-backs-anti-corruption-sentiments-malaca-ang-1602">Marcos backs anti-corruption sentiments: Malacañang</a></div>“Sa ngayon po, alam po natin, nakatanggal na po tayo sa grey list ng FATF at kaya po nagpaimbestiga ang Pangulo at tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang pagpapanagot sa mga sangkot upang maging malinis po ang ating bansa sa isyu ng korapsyon,” she said.“Kung may legislation na dapat po, ito po ay trabaho na po ng ating mga mambabatas. Kung mayroon pa po silang nakikitang mga kakulangan, sila na po ang maaaring bumalangkas ng anumang bagong batas patungkol dito,” she added.Last year, Marcos Jr. publicized the<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/17/map-flood-control-projects-in-luzon-excluding-metro-manila-1348"> full list of flood control projects </a>from July 2022 to May 2025, leading investigators and non-government parties to trace billions-worth of missing or substandard flood control projects.Over 6 months since the expose first broke, only 3 cases have been filed against high-ranking officials and big-time contractors, while dozens of others tagged in anomalous deals remain scott free.“Hindi lamang po mga investigating bodies ang kailangang mas mabilis kumilos, pati po iyong AMLC,” Castro said referring to the Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Council.“Mayroon pong karapatan ang AMLC na magsagawa, motu proprio, ng pag-iimbestiga upang kung may nakitaan sila na dapat ma-freeze ang assets ng sinumang maaaring sangkot ay magampanan agad nila ito at makapag-file agad ng petition sa Court of Appeals,” she said. “Sinabi rin po ng Ombudsman at ng DOJ ay patuloy pa rin po ang pag-iimbestiga so tingin natin po ay nakikita naman ito para mapatunayan ang bansa sa pamumuno po ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na sinsero po at seryoso ang administrasyon na ito na puksain ang korapsyon.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/10/flood-control-scandal-harms-ph-business-reputation-biz-group-1911">Flood control scandal harms PH reputation among business community, foreign countries: PCCI</a></div>In February 2025, the Philippines announced that it has been removed from the grey list over 3 years after the country was flagged for “strategic deficiencies” in terms of the entry and exit of suspected illegal funds.“For us Filipinos, exiting the grey list means a simpler, more affordable financial system of transactions. It means our OFWs can send money home at a lower cost,” Marcos Jr. had said.“It also means that our businesses face fewer hurdles in securing international financing, which encourages—foreign investment,” he added.Being included anew in the FATF’s grey list will involve a long process so the Philippines still has time to improve its reputation in terms of money laundering and corruption, the BSP chief said.

“Sa ngayon po, alam po natin, nakatanggal na po tayo sa grey list ng FATF at kaya po nagpaimbestiga ang Pangulo at tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang pagpapanagot sa mga sangkot upang maging malinis po ang ating bansa sa isyu ng korapsyon,” she said.

“Sa ngayon po, alam po natin, nakatanggal na po tayo sa grey list ng FATF at kaya po nagpaimbestiga ang Pangulo at tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang pagpapanagot sa mga sangkot upang maging malinis po ang ating bansa sa isyu ng korapsyon,” she said.