MANILA, Philippines -- The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is having an "emergency meeting" at 2 p.m. on Friday, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte lambasted the agency anew and asked secretariat officials to resign.
"I'm on the way now to AMLC... It's an emergency meeting," said newly appointed Insurance commissioner Dennis Funa in a phone interview.
Funa, formerly deputy commissioner for legal, took his oath before Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez earlier in the day.
After the oath-taking, he said he immediately had to go to AMLC.
He said he is unaware of the agenda of the meeting, which came a day after Duterte told AMLC executives to resign or be treated "as drug addicts."
Later Thursday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II clarified the president meant the AMLC secretariat led by its executive director, Julia Bacay-Abad, and not its lead officials.
AMLC is chaired by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. As new IC commissioner, Funa will become an AMLC member, together with Securities and Exchange Commission chair Teresita Herbosa.
The independent body, created by Republic Act 9160, votes collectively and unanimously on issues.
Despite being his appointee, Funa vowed to keep his independence from Duterte, who has been irked by alleged delays from AMLC in giving requested documents to the National Bureau of Investigation.
The documents are related to the government's drug war.
"As AMLC member, I know I have to be independent," Funa said.