AMLC freezes P24.7 billion assets in flood mess

MANILA, Philippines — The government, through the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), has so far frozen a total of P24.7 billion in assets of alleged corrupt officials linked to the multibillion-peso flood control scam ordered investigated by President Marcos in 2025.

This was revealed during plenary deliberations on the P7.2-trillion national budget at the House of Representatives, when Rep. Presley de Jesus (Philreca party-list) asked AMLC budget sponsor Rep. Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria how has the agency been faring in its efforts to help recover ill-gotten wealth.

Sagarbarria, of Negros Oriental’s second district, replied that these assets have been “preserved” by the AMLC and that the P24.7-billion figure was as of January this year, and that it might even go up.

From the time the flood control scandal broke out in 2025, the lawmaker disclosed that half or 15 of the 30 freeze orders issued by the Court of Appeals have been tied to corruption cases. They included 14 flood control cases covering about P20.2 billion preserved assets.

In the first half of this year – from January to June – 18 of the 28 civil forfeiture petitions in various courts were also linked to corruption cases, covering around P15.7 billion in preserved assets, Sagarbarria added.

There are also five active freeze orders reaching more than P1 billion, now pending before a regional trial court.

In relation to flood control anomalies, 22 petitions have been filed in courts as of Sept. 16 this year covering about P16 billion in preserved assets. All in all for this year, the courts have issued 106 forfeiture orders covering P2.17 billion in total assets.

Of the amount, an estimated P774 million has been returned to the victims of various crimes, P166 million has been turned over to the national government and P119 million transferred to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The AMLC’s proposed budget for 2027 was not challenged during plenary deliberations.

In late August, the AMLC secured a freeze order against the assets of a lawmaker that it refused to identify, but whose case involved “projects worth billions of pesos.”

“The case arose from investigations by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, as well as a separate administrative inquiry by the House of Representatives,” the AMLC said.

The AMLC said the appellate court “found probable cause that the assets were linked to violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act 3019.”

“In a Resolution dated 25 August 2026, the CA ordered the freezing of the assets of the lawmaker, a construction company linked to the legislator, and other associated individuals,” the AMLC added.

“Although the lawmaker claimed he had divested himself of his interest in the construction business before assuming public office, records showed he continued to receive proceeds from the business while in public office, indicating he continued to exercise control over the construction companies.”

The freeze order covers 55 bank accounts and four insurance policies. The AMLC said it remains steadfast in carrying out its mandate to protect the integrity of the Philippine financial system and uphold the rule of law.

Through close coordination with partner agencies, the AMLC said it would continue to pursue measures authorized under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, as amended, to identify, trace, preserve, and recover assets linked to corruption and other unlawful activities.