By Anna Leah Gonzales
MANILA – The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Tuesday said it has secured from the Court of Appeals another freeze order covering a broad range of assets potentially linked to individuals and entities involved in anomalous flood control projects.
In a statement, AMLC said among those frozen are 836 bank accounts, 12 e-wallets, 24 insurance policies, 81 motor vehicles, and 12 real estate properties.
The council said it is the most extensive asset freeze since the investigation into the flood control irregularities started.
“By freezing a wide range of assets — such as bank accounts, e-wallets, vehicles, and properties — the AMLC is disrupting the financial channels used in corrupt activities,” lawyer Matthew David, AMLC executive director, said.
“Our goal is straightforward: prevent stolen public funds from being dissipated and misused, recover them for the National Government, and ensure that those involved in money laundering are held accountable,” he added.
The latest freeze order builds on two earlier directives that collectively immobilized 1,563 bank accounts, 54 insurance policies, 154 vehicles, 30 properties, and 12 e-wallets.
The AMLC said based on the current estimate, the total value of frozen assets related to the controversy stands at PHP2.9 billion.
The amount is expected to increase as the investigation deepens.
The AMLC said it remains committed to transparency and accountability and is working closely with other government agencies to ensure that public funds are protected and properly used. (PNA)
