Aquino signs AMLA changes into law

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President Aquino signs into law the bill amending the Anti-Money Laundering Act

NOW A LAW. President Benigno Aquino III signed into law the third bill amending the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Photo by Malacañang Photo Bureau

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III signed into law the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).

In a text message, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said, “We are pleased to announce that today [Friday, February 15], President Aquino signed Republic Act 10365 also known as An Act Further Strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Law.”

The law seeks to expand the list of predicate crimes or unlawful activities, and the list of institutions that AMLA covers.

Both chambers of Congress ratified the measure on February 6, beating the deadline set by an international body to avoid inclusion in a blacklist.

Under the law, foreign exchange corporations, money changers, and pre-need companies will be required to report transactions of P500,000 and above to the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

Precious stones and metal dealers will be required to report transactions of P1 million and above.

The law also mandates the Land Registration Authority to report transactions in the real estate sector. The Senate version proposed for the inclusion of brokers and real estate agents to the list.

Yet bicameral conference committee members removed casinos from the list, a provision that was included in the Senate version of the bill.

The law aims to expand the list of predicate crimes or unlawful activities to include:

  • terrorism
  • conspiracy to commit terrorism
  • bribery
  • fraud
  • illegal exactions
  • malversation of public funds
  • violations to the: Anti Trafficking Act, Revised Forestry Code, Philippine Fisheries Code, Philippines Mining Act, Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, National Caves and Cave Resoruces Management Protection Act, and Anti-Carnapping Act
  • illegal possesion, manufacture or disposition of firearms, ammunication or explosives

The measure is the 3rd of 3 amendments required by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the Philippines to avoid being put under a blacklist when the FATF meets on February 18.

Inclusion in the blacklist would denote “that the Philippines is perceived to be ‘non-cooperative’ in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.”

Aquino previously signed into law the two other proposed amendments to the AMLA – Senate Bill 3009 and Senate Bill 3127.

Senate Bill 3009 allows the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to look into bank accounts of suspected money launderers without notifying them.

Senate Bill 3127 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act criminalizes terrorist financing as an offense separate from the crime of terrorism. – Rappler.com

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