The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has filed 12 civil forfeiture petitions with the Regional Trial Court over alleged anomalies in flood control projects. This marks a sharp increase from the initial three cases disclosed last month, with the court issuing 11 provisional asset preservation orders. The AMLC plans to file more petitions in the coming days.
MANILA, Philippines — The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has significantly expanded its probe into alleged anomalies in flood control projects, filing a total of 12 civil forfeiture cases to recover suspected illicit assets.
In an email to The STAR, the AMLC said the 12 petitions with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) represent a sharp increase from the initial three cases disclosed last month. The RTC has issued 11 provisional asset preservation orders, prohibiting the movement or disposal of assets while proceedings continue. “AMLC will file more petitions in the coming days,” the agency stated.
The latest filings build on earlier freeze orders secured from the Court of Appeals after months of investigation. None of the assets under prior freeze orders were withdrawn or transferred before the forfeiture cases were filed, indicating the restrictions were effective.
As of March, the AMLC had frozen P27.8 billion in assets from 862 individuals and 648 entities related to the flood control corruption, covering 7,970 bank accounts, 219 real properties, 253 motor vehicles, and 11 aircraft. In a related development, the Sandiganbayan approved a precautionary hold departure order against former Speaker Martin Romualdez on April 22 over an alleged P56 billion kickback scheme in ghost flood control projects, according to the Ombudsman.
