AMLC goes after Philrem assets
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is set to run after the assets and properties of Philrem Services Corp. for its alleged role in the $81-million Bangladesh Bank cyber heist.
AMLC executive director Julia Bacay- Abad said the agency is set to file a forfeiture case against the assets and properties of Philrem.
“Definitely we will file cases against them. We already filed a criminal case; forfeiture we will also file. Definitely we will run after them,” she said.
Last April, the AMLC filed a complaint against the officers of Philrem led by president Salud Bautista, chairman and treasurer Michael Bautista and anti- money laundering compliance officer Anthony Pelejo for violating Republic Act 9160 otherwise known as the Anti- Money Laundering Act of 2001.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) revoked the licenses and delisted Philrem as well as Peso Remittance Express Inc. and Werquick Inc. from the roster of remittance agents, foreign exchange dealers and moneychangers last May 31.
Abad said the high- level mission from Bangladesh headed by minister of law and parliamentary affairs Anisul Huq was grateful to the AMLC.
Abad said the government is also running after Solaire Resort and Casino Manila where Chinese casino players played $29 million of the $81 million in stolen funds.
Abad said the AMLC is waiting for the ruling of the Supreme Court on the petition for review and certiorari the council filed against the lifting of the freeze order by the Court of Appeals on the said funds.
The AMLC has already filed money laundering charges against RCBC Jupiter branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito and the four fictitious account holders last March 15 and against Kim Wong and Weikang Xu last March 22.
Last month, it also sued for- mer RCBC treasurer Raul Victor Tan, national sales director Ismael Reyes, regional sales director Brigette Capiña, district sales director Nestor Pineda, customer service head Romualdo Agarrado and RCBC senior customer relations offi Angela Ruth Torres.