The Bureau of Customs has decided to launch a probe with the Anti-Money Laundering Council on the huge amounts of cash brought into the Philippines by foreign syndicates. The two agencies have been ordered by Finance Secretary, Carlos Dominguez, to closely work harmoniously in investigating the foreign currencies’ influx. According to BOC report, it was estimated that $370 million was imported into the country by two groups, one of which supposedly involved Chinese nationals. The BOC Chief also made recommendations to the Finance Secretary on creating an interagency body to watch over the country’s entry ports against the inflow of foreign currency and to recommend measures to discourage the use of such funds for illegal activities.
A Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, Richard Gordon had already told the Senate on how Chinese visitors who arrived the country from December to February imported about 180 million dollars into the country. Even though the money has been declared for gambling and investment purposes, Gordon was still concerned over the amount and the intention of the visiting Chinese. While reacting to the issue raised by Gordon, Senator Risa Hontiveros said she is in tandem with the belief of her colleagues that the money might have been funneled into the country by Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) workers, and she used the medium to reiterated her call for the suspension of all POGO operations as tons of issues hounding then gaming industry is being looked into by authorities.
