Manila Times
Upholding Truth. Empowering the Philippines
Saturday, Mar 21, 2026
The Nation's Story is Told with Honor
Philippines Exits FATF Grey List, Recognized for Anti-Money Laundering Efforts
The country's successful removal from increased monitoring is attributed to inter-agency collaboration and strong governance.
The Department of Finance (DOF) has been recognized by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for its significant contribution to the Philippines' exit from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list, a status that denotes jurisdictions under increased scrutiny for their anti-money laundering (AML) efforts.
On February 21, 2025, the Philippines officially exited the FATF grey list, a status it has held since June 2021.
As part of the National Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing/Counter-Proliferation Financing Coordinating Committee (NACC), the DOF oversees the implementation of the National AML/CTF/CPF Strategy (NACS), coordinating efforts among various government agencies aimed at addressing financial crimes.
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto has stated that the successful exit from the grey list represents a commitment to high standards of financial governance, which is expected to bolster confidence in the country’s financial system.
This development is anticipated to benefit overseas Filipino workers, businesses, and citizens by potentially attracting more foreign direct investment and enhancing trade relations, contributing to economic growth.
On May 6, 2025, President Marcos awarded certificates of commendation, plaques, and citations to heads of the various involved agencies during a ceremony in Malacañang Palace.
Recognized entities included the DOF’s associated bodies such as the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Insurance Commission (IC), as well as other key organizations including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Justice (DOJ).
Additional agencies highlighted in the recognition included the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Office of the Ombudsman, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The recognition also extended to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Supreme Court of the Philippines (SC), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
In his remarks following the announcement of the exit from the grey list, President Marcos Jr. emphasized the national achievement in combating money laundering and terrorism financing, underscoring the enhancement of protective measures against such threats in alignment with the country’s goals for genuine and inclusive growth.
On February 21, 2025, the Philippines officially exited the FATF grey list, a status it has held since June 2021.
As part of the National Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing/Counter-Proliferation Financing Coordinating Committee (NACC), the DOF oversees the implementation of the National AML/CTF/CPF Strategy (NACS), coordinating efforts among various government agencies aimed at addressing financial crimes.
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto has stated that the successful exit from the grey list represents a commitment to high standards of financial governance, which is expected to bolster confidence in the country’s financial system.
This development is anticipated to benefit overseas Filipino workers, businesses, and citizens by potentially attracting more foreign direct investment and enhancing trade relations, contributing to economic growth.
On May 6, 2025, President Marcos awarded certificates of commendation, plaques, and citations to heads of the various involved agencies during a ceremony in Malacañang Palace.
Recognized entities included the DOF’s associated bodies such as the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Insurance Commission (IC), as well as other key organizations including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Justice (DOJ).
Additional agencies highlighted in the recognition included the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Office of the Ombudsman, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The recognition also extended to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Supreme Court of the Philippines (SC), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
In his remarks following the announcement of the exit from the grey list, President Marcos Jr. emphasized the national achievement in combating money laundering and terrorism financing, underscoring the enhancement of protective measures against such threats in alignment with the country’s goals for genuine and inclusive growth.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
