AMLC submit papers 90 minutes after President's rebuke

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) immediately submitted its findings to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with the alleged involvement of Senator Leila De lima and other former officials in the illegal drug trade after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to confront them.


"Alam ba ninyo na after the President nagdiskurso kahapon na parang nagagalit siya sa AMLC, 3:00 p.m. iyon, at 4:30 kahapon din (AMLC report arrived)," recounted Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

The Secretary said that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had been waiting for the AMLC report even before they filed a criminal complaints against Senator Leila De Lima at the Department of Justice (DOJ). The NBI had sought the help of the AMLC to check certain bank accounts in connection with the narcotics trade involving De Lima.

"Alam mo ang tagal naming hinihintay yan pero hindi dumating yung response ng AMLC," said Aguirre who noted that the NBI was forced to file the criminal complaints against De Lima and her co-respondents last November 10 sans the AMLC report.

"May pinanggagaling si Presidente kung bakit siya nagagalit gawa nung di ba natatandaan ninyo yung akusasayon ni Trillanes doon sa BPI account niya na meron daw siyang P211 million na account," explained Aguirre.

During the presidential campaign, losing vice presidential candidate, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, accused Duterte of keeping a hidden bank account containing P211 million.

The Secretary said that the AMLC should have checked out the accusations of Trillanes to prove the senator wrong.

"Ang sabi ni President dapat ang ginawa nila inimbestigahan nila yung akusasyon ni Trillanes at kung inimbestigahan nila ay makikita nila na wala," Aguirre said.