All government agencies, including local government units and government-owned and -controlled corporations, have been directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to support the programs of the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, on 12 February, signed Memorandum Circular No. 113 by authority of the President, directing all relevant government agencies to support the drafting of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism/Proliferation Financing Strategy for 2026–2030.
The order designated the Anti-Money Laundering Council as the NACC Secretariat, which “shall provide technical and administrative support, issue timelines, and monitor compliance of concerned government agencies and instrumentalities in drafting the NACS 2026–2030.”
“The heads of concerned government agencies and instrumentalities are hereby directed, and heads of LGUs are hereby encouraged, to ensure that their institutional action plans for the NACS 2026–2030 are aligned with their respective agency resources, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations,” the circular added.
LGUs, government agencies and GOCCs are further encouraged to fully support the AMLC and actively participate in drafting the updated national strategy.
The Philippines recently conducted its Third National Risk Assessment covering 2021–2024 to identify priority threats and vulnerabilities related to money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing, and to recommend risk-based actions for incorporation into the national strategy.
Updating the NACS is critical as the country prepares for its fourth mutual evaluation by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering in 2027, which will assess the Philippines’ technical compliance with the 40 Financial Action Task Force recommendations and its effectiveness across 11 Immediate Outcomes.
The circular also noted that a FATF Standards Technical Compliance Gap Analysis is underway to ensure the Philippines’ AML/CTF/CPF framework meets international standards and is ready for the 2027 APG mutual evaluation.
The issuance follows recommendations from the FATF urging the Philippines to continue collaborating with the APG to sustain improvements in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing system.