Philippine President To Make Bank Accounts Public Amid Money Laundering Allegations

Josh O'Neill

21 February 2017

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte last week reportedly ordered the country's Anti-Money Laundering Council to make his bank accounts public, just a day after one of his most devout critics reignited allegations of millions of dollars of hidden assets.

During a private dinner attended by retired military and police officers in Baguio City, Duterte reportedly said he was proud to have been made an honorary member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1967 and supposedly added that “I would shame the class” by any involvement in corruption.

"I've ordered the anti-money laundering council and everybody to give information on what my worth is in this, in terms of pesos on this planet, so I will not shame you," he reportedly said.

The Philippines' Anti-Money Laundering Council was established under the country's central bank to probe illegal bank transfers and prevent the flow of dirty money.

Senator Antonio Trillanes, a critic of the president and himself a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, last week released copies of what he claimed to be bank statements from 2006 to 2015. The statements showed a total of $47.9 million in numerous accounts which he said belonged to Duterte and which Duterte had failed to declare before his election last May.

Duterte reportedly said Trillanes' allegations were “pure garbage”.

“If any of my family or myself were involved in corruption in government, you can be sure...I would resign immediately,” Duterte reportedly said.

Last month, the president hit back at media claims that the Philippines faced a potential blacklisting by global financial crime watchdog the Financial Action Task Force.