DoJ achieves milestones vs financial crimes

The fight against money laundering and terrorism financing has recorded a significant stride due to the strong campaign by the government.

This was according to the Department of Justice (DoJ), through the Financial Investigation and Litigation Enhancement and Prosecution Support Center (FILEPSC), noting the big strides in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of Money Laundering (ML) and Terrorism Financing (TF) cases.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said, "These milestones are a powerful reminder that justice can be attained through perseverance, commitment and unity. This accolade fuels our relentless pursuit for justice and vows that we will never hold back from our duties until we completely eradicate these two evils of society: money laundering and terrorism financing."

The latest statistics reflect the DoJ’s commitment to combating financial crimes and ensuring accountability.

The DoJ said in a statement Monday, that from 2020 to 2024, a total of 5,557 TF identifications have been recorded.

The number of TF investigations has reached 1,816, demonstrating the government’s aggressive stance against financial crimes.

During the same period, the DoJ has received 1,031 TF information for further action and it has made 71 arrests in connection with TF activities.

The significant increase in identifications and investigations has resulted in a sharp rise in filed cases, ensuring justice is served.

A total of 237 TF prosecutions have been initiated, wherein six accused have been convicted of 114 TF counts, reinforcing the government’s commitment to holding criminals accountable.

Meanwhile, a total of 794 individuals have been accused of money laundering from 2021 to 2024, highlighting the DoJ’s rigorous legal enforcement.

Two hundred 64 ML cases have been filed under FILEPSC, with 185 prosecutions in 2024 alone, demonstrating the continuous effort to combat financial crimes.

Additionally, a total of 13,799 money laundering investigations were carried out between 2021 and 2024, with 5,821 investigations in 2024 alone — more than double the number conducted in 2021-2022.

The DoJ remains committed to combating financial crimes and ensuring that those responsible for money laundering and terrorist financing are held accountable.

The ongoing initiatives under FILEPSC will continue to strengthen the legal framework and improve enforcement capabilities.