A P162.9-million boost in its 2026 budget, facilitated by Senator Ping Lacson and then Senate finance committee chairman Win Gatchalian, helped the Anti-Money Laundering Council integrate artificial intelligence in its anti-money laundering efforts this year.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor and AMLC Chairman Eli Remolona Jr. said, nearly a year after Blue Ribbon hearings on the flood control scandal highlighted gaps in the country’s anti-money laundering efforts amid massive cash transactions involving contractors.
Remolona said the AMLC allocated P125 million out of the additional funding to strengthen its AI capability.
“Ang P125 million, napunta ‘yan sa AI; tapos ang capacity building. Kailangan din ng mga experts sa paggamit ng AI. So gamit na gamit po ang budget na ‘yan.”
“Ang P125 million, napunta ‘yan sa AI; tapos ang capacity building. Kailangan din ng mga experts sa paggamit ng AI. So gamit na gamit po ang budget na ‘yan,” the AMLC chief said in response to a question from Lacson during the briefing of the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) for the 2027 national budget.
“Sa exercise na lang ng oversight namin, nasaan na tayo ngayon sa naitulong naming kaunting halaga na P162M? Nag-improve ba capacity ng AMLC?” the veteran legislator had asked Remolona.
When the seasoned lawmaker asked if the P162-million boost helped the AMLC, Remolona said, “Absolutely.”
Last November, the Senate finance committee under then-chairman and now-Senate President Gatchalian restored the proposed budget of the AMLC for 2026 to P333 million, following Lacson’s strong recommendation.
The AMLC’s budget was restored to P333 million in the Senate version of the budget bill, from the P170.161 million allotted for it in the National Expenditure Program.
In September last year, Lacson assured the AMLC that he would help secure the funding it needs to fight money laundering and corruption, as he lamented the AMLC got “crumbs” in the NEP.
This followed a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing that uncovered how contractor Sally Santos, owner of Syms Construction, withdrew P457 million in cash in a single day in March and in April 2025, or within a period of just nine days. Santos at the time delivered the cash to sacked Public Works engineer Brice Hernandez.
“The AMLC had proposed to the Department of Budget and Management a budget of P333.1 million for 2026, but had only P170.161 million in recommended appropriations under the NEP.”
Also, the senator noted at the time that the AMLC had proposed to the Department of Budget and Management a budget of P333.1 million for 2026, but had only P170.161 million in recommended appropriations under the NEP.
He pointed out that the additional requirements of the AMLC are “smaller than the commissions and SOPs demanded by corrupt officials in the Department of Public Works and Highways as well as some legislator-proponents, among others.”
