Tokyo flights from NAIA back to normal

By Nidz Godino

“We lolo and lola are après skiing, we only eat, sleep and pray… young ones ski and eat a lot… boys have 5X more appetite than us,” family of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and husband Mike Arroyo, except their daughter Luli, were on Christmas skiing holiday in Japan when earthquake struck on New Year’s Day.

All flights to and from Haneda airport returned to normal at theNinoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) following collision involving Japan Airlines flight 516 and departing Japanese Coast Guard plane at Tokyo airport.

Philippine Airlines flight PR 424 with an estimated departure time of 7:05 in the evening bound for Haneda was put on hold at NAIA Terminal 1 on Jan. 2 due to temporary closure of all runways at Haneda after  incident.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said at 8:55 in the evening  on Tuesday, PAL flight PR 424 Manila to Tokyo Haneda  started accepting passengers for boarding. This was after they received latest briefing from Haneda airport authorities on  opening of certain runways.

Flight PR 424 departed at 9:30 in the evening while flight PR 423 from Tokyo/Haneda to Manila arrived at 3:30 in the morning local time on Wednesday, she said.

Japan Airlines flight 516 with 379 passengers on board had just landed Tuesday evening when it collided with Japan Coast Guard aircraft preparing for takeoff with six crew and relief goods on board for earthquake victims.

All passengers of JAL plane were safely evacuated before it burned.  Five  fatalities were on De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop of coast guard.

Arroyo grandkids were skiing when magnitude 7.6 quake hit Niseko, one of the finest ski resorts in Asia popular among wealthy Filipinos.

In messages sent to fellow Ateneans, Arroyo recounted “close call” during their flight back from Sapporo to Tokyo Haneda where collision happened.

“We thank God because… my whole family… from Niseko in Japan we went to Sapporo… airport was in Chitose as we flew Japan Airlines to Tokyo ,Haneda,” he said, referring to collision between  JAL plane and  Coast Guard aircraft  resulted in five deaths.

Luckily, he said, their flight was delayed and  family avoided being part of  aircraft accident, missing it by just 50 minutes.

Former  first family left NAIA Terminal 3 on board All Nippon Airlines last Dec. 23.

Meanwhile, financial and other necessary assistance await Filipino workers affected by  strong quake in Japan.

“For OFWs adversely affected by  Japan quake, DMW shall provide financial assistance,” Department of Migrant Workers announced in  Facebook post.

DMW advised overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) needing assistance to contact Migrant Workers’ Office in Osaka via email or through its hotline.

Philippine government reported no Filipino casualty as  result of quake, but  number have been evacuated to safer areas. 

More courts for Taguig City

By J.Lo

“Any motion for reconsideration shall be filed with  Makati City court within time allowed by Rules of Court, while appeals from judgment or final order of  Makati City MeTC shall be taken to Taguig City RTC,” Supreme Court (SC) has assigned seven Regional Trial Courts (RTC) and four Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTC) in Makati City as assisting courts for Taguig City.

 Decision  comes after  high court ruled to transfer ten enlisted men’s barrios or “embo” barangays from Makati to Taguig City.

In  resolution dated December 5,  SC designated following courts to support Taguig’s courts in handling cases and delivering rulings:

Regional Trial Courts

• Branch 136, Judge Rico Sebastian D. Liwanag (Family Court)
• Branch 144, Judge Liza Marie R. Picardal-Tecson (Family Court)
• Branch 147, Judge Karla Regina D. Valera-Chua (Special Commercial Court)
• Branch 63, Judge Jacob M. Montesa II (Drugs Court)
• Branch 145, Judge Karen A. Matti-Sy
• Branch 65, Judge Veronica B. Tongio-Igot (Drugs Court); and
• Branch 134, Judge Redentor Dela Cruz Cardenas

Metropolitan Trial Courts

• Branch 61, Judge Xavier Paolo R. Del Castillo
• Branch 66, Judge Niño Delvin E. Embuscado
• Branch 128, Judge Maureen L. Rubio Marquez; and
• Branch 129, Judge Alexius P. Tang

Parties involved in criminal and civil cases filed in Taguig courts must provide their landline or mobile phone numbers along with email addresses. Information  will form integral part of  official records for cases.

SC also said cases will be assigned under existing rules. Court  clerks will send  case records to assigned branches for proper documentation.

After that, case records will be sent back to Office of the Clerk of Court (OCC) and then forwarded to  courts in Makati City for further distribution to assisting courts.

In urgent cases that require immediate action, meanwhile executive judge of Taguig City court, where case was filed, can address urgent temporary relief petitions before case is sent to assigned Makati City court.

 “On the other hand, if no appeal or motion for reconsideration is timely filed, case records shall be forwarded from branch of Makati City court to its OCC, then transmitted to Taguig City Court for execution.  Judgment  or final order shall then be entered by tClerk of Court of Taguig City court in its book of entries of judgment.,”  court added.

SC also stated documentation of provisionally dismissed or archived cases by Makati courts should stay with those courts until program concludes.

Long weekends for 2024

By Nidz Godino

“It is fitting and proper that people of  City of Manila be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy celebration,” read Proclamation 434, which was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

FMJ on Thursday reminded public to plan ahead of long weekends scheduled for 2024.

In October 2023, FMJ issued Proclamation 368, identifying regular holidays and special non-working holidays for 2024.

Some of these holidays were moved around to extend rest days after or before  weekend.

In  January 1 post on social media, FMJ said 

public should plan their transactions and vacations during long weekends for  “prosperous and productive year.”

We’ve compiled  list of  long weekends for the year:

March

• March 28, Thursday – Maundy Thursday (regular holiday)
• March 29, Friday – Good Friday (regular holiday)
• March 30, Saturday – Black Saturday (additional special non-working day) 
• March 31, Sunday – Easter Sunday 

April 

• April 6-7, Saturday and Sunday
• April 8, Monday (possible date for leave)
• April 9, Tuesday – Araw ng Kagitingan (regular holiday)

August

• August 21, Wednesday – Ninoy Aquino Day (special non-working day)
• August 22, Thursday (possible date for leave)
• August 23, Friday (possible date for leave)
• August 24-25, Saturday and Sunday
• August 26, Monday – National Heroes Day (regular holiday) 

November 

• November 1, Friday – All Saints’ Day (special non-working day)
• November 2, Saturday — All Souls’ Day (additional special non-working day)
• November 3, Sunday

December

• December 21, Saturday
• December 22, Sunday
• December 23, Monday (possible date for leave)
• December 24, Tuesday – Christmas Eve (additional special non-working day)
• December 25, Wednesday — Christmas Day (regular holiday)
• December 28, Saturday
• December 29, Sunday
• December 30, Monday — Rizal Day (regular holiday)
• December 31, Sunday — Last Day of the Year (special non-working day) 

Malacañang on Thursday declared January 9  special non-working day in the City of Manila to mark observance of Traslacion. 

Event , falls on  Tuesday, marks  return of Traslacion, annual procession of revered Black Nazarene statue, of Roman Catholic Church after  three-year break due to  pandemic. 

Traslacion is expected to draw around 2.5 million Catholic devotees, Philippine National Police said. Around four million devotees joined  last Traslacion in 2019. 

Procession  will start from Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to Quiapo Church in Quezon Boulevard.

Organizers of procession reminded devotees to refrain from climbing andas, or  Black Nazarene’s carriage, to wipe image with  cloth, towel or handkerchief. 

Instead, devotees can throw their handkerchiefs and towels, will be wiped on image by members of  Hijos del Nazareno who are on carriage.

Komedya o Komida

Ni Derek Jorge

Komedyanteng mga tanod

SA lahat naman ng tao sa Las Piñas City, barangay tanod pa ang lumalabas na ignoranteng may closed circuit camera sa pinagtapunan nila ng labi ng kinikilala pa ring pinaslang na biktima. Shout out muna Sagguniang Barangay Binang First Bocaue, Bulacan member Alexander Malvar, Michelle Bautista, Mark Del Rosario, Esperanza Benedicto, Rorielou Cando, Acemond Pineda, Pablo De Guzman, Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson Rachel Bianca Cruz. Mabubulok nang malamang sa piitan ang naturang mga barangay tanod dahil kinasuhan ng “murder”, “unbailable offense” ito   Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal. Mga barangay captain, pakapiliin nyo naman ang kukuning baaraangay tanod, hindi basta walang ginagawang tambay ay pwede na. Baka naman may pwedeng pakinabangan mula sa dating administrasyon, tsaka na ang pulitika, serbisyo muna. Kumusta ho ang hilatsa ng pagmumukha ng mga tanod, baka ni hindi makuhang maligo, mahaba ang buhok na

hindi man lang din ayusin, mahahaba at maruruming kuko, gula-gulanit ang pantalon at t-shirt, minsan naka-short lang ,personalidad naman. Harap-harapang naninigarilyo, kaunting asal naman. Baka ni hindi makabasa at makasulat. Kailangang nakaiintindi naman, magkakalat lang ang mga iyan kung hindi.  Magkita-kita tayo mga Marked Men

 for Christ facilitators sa petsa 26, phase 2 seminar at phase 1 sa Baguio City, Febrero 21-23, maghanda-handa na tayo.  Pagbati kay Police Major Genderal Joel Pagdilao, sinibak sa serbisyo noong 2017 pero inabswelto ng korte de apelasyon, makaraan ang 6 taon, sayang ang career nito. Yung mga tolonges na pulis, protector ni gambling lord Rogelio Mistica Jr., namamayagpag sa pwesto. Alam ni Kiwal may 2 sugalan ka, magkaaway kamo tayo, totoo naman, kaya nga hindi ka makatuntong sa Metromanila ‘di ba, kayong dalawa ni Marissa? Hindi na makapag-eere ang mga kampon ni Apollo ngayon,a-kwatro ng Enero, hindi kumilos ang CA e, malamang makaraan din ang 5 taon mananaog ang desisyon. Welcome to the Philippines Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Capica. Ididiskwento ng Meralco nang hanggang syento porsyento sa singil sa koryente ang mga benepisyaryo ng 4ps. Kwalipikadong aplikante ay kailangang hindi kumukunsumo ng 100 kw.hr. DSWD, huwag naman nyong pahirapan mga aplikante. Dalawang buwan na lang at Marked Men for Christ sa Baguio na.  Jonathan Fernandez, muzta na, nagkakalimutan na tayo a. Problema ba, pag-usapan natin, ndgodino@yahoo.com.

CA exonerates Pagdilao

By J.Lo

Court of Appeals (CA) Eighth Division modified  Office of the President (OP)’s October 2017 decision and found former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Joel Pagdilao liable only for simple neglect of duty, penalizing him with  reprimand.

CA has reversed  decision of former president Rodrigo Duterte to dismiss from service Pagdilao over  general’s supposed failure to curb  proliferation of illegal drugs.

Duterte had accused Pagdilao and other PNP officials of protecting drug traffickers.

In dismissing Pagdilao, Malacañang said he was administratively liable for serious neglect of duty and serious irregularity in  performance of duty.

 CA’s Dec. 20, 2023 decision was penned by Associate Justice Jaime Fortunato Caringal. Concurring were Associate Justices Ramon Cruz and Louis Acosta.

 OP had upheld  recommendation of  National Police Commission to dismiss Pagdilao for ignoring letter from then Quezon City Vice Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy”  Belmonte-Alimurung containing comments from residents critical of  Stations Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Group and for assigning officers with no training and with derogatory records to  task group.

Pagdilao, as then NCRPO chief, also allegedly failed to sanction police officers who contributed to large number of acquittals in drug cases before  prosecutors and courts, caused by illegal arrests, unlawful searches, planting of evidence, bungling of drug cases and repeated failure of police officers to appear as prosecution witnesses, among others.

In favoring Pagdilao,  CA said  general was only liable for simple neglect of duty when he failed to reply to  letter from Belmonte, saying this did not fall under offenses classified as “grave,” under  Napolcom memorandum circular.

Instead,  CA said Pagdilao’s action was  example of  failure to “coordinate or cooperate with other law enforcement agencies and their personnel,” signifies “ disregard of duty resulting from carelessness or indifference, but not  flagrant and culpable refusal or unwillingness of  person to perform duty, so as to amount to serious neglect of duty.”

CA also noted  Belmonte’s letter was endorsed by Pagdilao’s subordinate to  concerned police units.

Additionally, CA said  former NCRPO chief is not liable under  doctrine of command responsibility for  bungled drug cases because it was not proven  he had knowledge of these irregularities.

 CA also cleared Pagdilao of serious irregularity in  performance of duty, saying police personnel who had derogatory records had served their administrative sanctions and were on active duty. Therefore they could be assigned as he saw fit.

 CA disagreed with  Office of the Solicitor General’s position that police personnel with derogatory records should not be involved in anti-illegal drug operations, saying that having  derogatory record does not automatically mean  police officer no longer has trustworthiness, integrity, responsibility and expertise.

iskup news-on-line daily is creation of Godino’s Advertising Agency, Trece Martires City, Cavite 

4 Enero 2024, Huwebes

condemns murder of Juan Jumalon

underboard nurses, be health care associates, inquire to DOH 

supports Bible month

Pilipinas, may pinakamahabang pasko sa daigdig, Maligayang Pasko!!!

HEADLINES

CPNP  tightens regulation of online sellers

By J.Lo

“Maybe we can study further or maybe through coordination with  legislation how to regulate transactions with courier services and online sellers and what can be banned,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said PNP is pushing for stricter regulations on  use of social media platforms and delivery providers to sell products after  PNP observed  rampant selling of banned firecrackers through online platforms and courier services during  Yuletide season.

Acorda  has appealed to Congress to look into  possibility of crafting laws that would address  problem of individuals using these platforms to transport contraband.

Acorda lamented despite their intensified crackdown against prohibited fireworks during  holidays, more people were injured due to firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices which may have something to do with  sale of firecrackers through online platforms and courier services.

Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) had arrested several people days before  New Year’s Eve festivities for selling firecrackers through Facebook.

 ACG insisted using Facebook to sell firecrackers is illegal, as people involved did not secure permits from  PNP and local government units.

Acorda said drug traffickers are also using courier services to transport illegal drugs into the country.

As these developed,public  should expect  intensified crackdown from  PNP against illegal drugs and cybercrimes this year as Acorda  has set his sights on addressing these two concerns of law enforcement.

On  war on drugs, Acorda vowed to sustain efforts, particularly on drug-affected barangays.

“We will sustain our anti-illegal drugs campaign, wherein we will be focusing on drug clearing and personalities involved,” Acorda said.

In its latest report, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said 7,543 barangays in the country are still affected by illegal drugs.

Acorda  is discussing with  Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission and other concerned government agencies on coming up with  study on  state of barangay drug affectation in the country.

“We will come up with  list of affected barangays, including personalities involved,” he added, referring to high-value suspects in  illegal drug trade.

 PNP chief stressed  holistic approach is needed to address drug problem and that law enforcement and operations should be supported by reform, awareness and education programs.

He reminded police officers  aggressive operations must be in accordance with  law,  means  lawmen should observe rules and regulations.

Acorda has also expressed alarm over what he said is  drastic increase in cybercrimes.

It is for this reason that Acorda had ordered  training of police officers down to  station level on how to investigate cybercrimes.

 PNP currently has  Anti-Cybercrime Group that has units in police regional offices.

Having anti-cybercrime units in all territorial police units means more investigators to address cybercrimes.

“If we can capacitate our police stations, meaning each of them has personnel capable of handling such cases, the better,” Acorda said. 

Acorda has also acknowledged commitment and sacrifices of PNP officers, emphasizing their role as  “cornerstone of safer and more secure Philippines.”

In his New Year’s Day message , Acorda expressed gratitude for dedication and collective strength demonstrated by PNP members in 2023.

He commended resilience displayed by  police in  face of unprecedented challenges in ensuring  safety and well-being of Filipinos.

“You have stood firm and exemplified  true spirit of service, ensuring  safety of our countrymen,” Acorda said.

He urged  public to carry forward  lessons of 2023.

Acorda called for fostering unity, cooperation and understanding among  diverse communities in  pursuit of  safer and progressive nation.

Success, he said, lies in ability to work together, transcending differences and embracing  diversity that defines  Philippines.Acorda encouraged PNP personnel to handle  challenges of 2024 with positivity and determination, and serve  country with integrity.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Micah 6:8

⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.

Footnotes

1. Micah 6:8 Or prudently

Cha-cha debates encouraged

By Nidz Godino

“Let free market of ideas prevail and intelligent discussions flourish all for  good of  people both now and  years to come,” Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers supported  call of Speaker Martin Romualdez to push for Charter amendments.

Debates, for or against Charter change, are  friction necessary to polish  1987 Constitution for it to become  gem that will finally pave  way for  Philippines to reach first-world status in the near future, lawmakers said.

Aside from Barbers, other key House leaders have joined  move, among them Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., House committee on constitutional amendments chair Rufus Rodriguez and Reps. LRay Villafuerte and Stella Quimbo.

Barbers, chairman of  House committee on dangerous drugs is ironic that people have always been opposed to Charter change every time  issue is raised, even if they don’t know what is at stake yet, other than  oft-repeated term extensions of elected public officials.

“Knee-jerk reaction is unfair and uncalled for…we haven’t started anything and they’re shooting it down, many provisions were inadvertently left unedited like  structure of  legislature, unicameral or bi-cameral that’s why there are conflicting provisions… proof  it was passed in haste, thus we need to correct to give it consistency,” Barbers said .

Barbers was probably referring to  two opposing schools of thought among lawyers, wherein  recurring question is: Should changes in  Constitution be undertaken by both houses of Congress, or not?

Senators and congressmen’s view are locked on this issue, with senators insisting voting should be done separately since bringing them into  bigger chamber of  House will only dilute their vote, considering that they are only 24, compared to  more than 300 congressmen.

Quimbo,  represents  second district of Marikina, stressed need to lift prohibitive provisions in the Constitution,  she says have left Manila as laggard among its nearest neighbors in  Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“As our economy moves forward in 2024 and beyond, there is  growing consensus that reforms are needed in various areas to improve  state of our nation and to uplift  lives of  Filipino people, bottom line is we need to send  certain and predictable signal to  global investor community:  Philippines is ready, able and willing to accept foreign direct investments,” Quimbo said,  former commissioner of  Philippine Competition Commission.

Supporters say House-initiated Charter change complements President Marcos’ “Bagong Pilipinas” theme,needs  new charter that should replace  36-year-old Constitution, since it was crafted during  turbulent years after  first Marcos administration.

Gonzales protected Marcos from speculations he may have something to do with statement given by Speaker that this move to amend 1987 Constitution had his blessings.

“This is  legislative work and that’s  different body,  Executive department… I think  Legislative will be  one to initiate this,” he said.

Gonzales, resigned from  once ruling PDP-Laban party and joined  Lakas-CMD party of Romualdez after he named former president Rodrigo Duterte as the one who has been vilifying  House, said  objective is to have  new charter.

“So, that’s our objective: Bagong Konstitusyon ng Bagong Pilipinas…how can we work in new environment under  new Philippines when its constitution is still or remains old?” Gonzales said.

He said  target timeline of  new charter change move is to be able to present it to Marcos before he delivers his third State of the Nation Address on July 22, just  year before  midterm and senatorial elections in May 2025.“I think we can get the target, I think before  SONA if ever. ..I think we can get it with  coordination with other congressmen and members of  Upper House…so we’ll try to pursue Cha-cha next year, we will tackle  amendments to  Constitution,” Gonzales said

NPA, now weak, and on the run – AFP

By J.Lo

“Underground movement is no longer capable of implementing programs that will enable it to recruit new members, generate resources and establish  united front to overthrow  government,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar told media with its active guerrilla fronts dismantled, New People’s Army (NPA) is “strategically defeated” and its remaining armed members across the country are now on the run. NPA is armed wing of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), whose political arm is National Democratic Front (NDF).

Aguilar said development should convince remaining NPA guerrillas to lay down their arms and return to  fold of  law.

AFP earlier announced  elimination of active NPA guerrilla fronts in the country as  result of  military’s “focused military operations.”

“As of December, there are no more active CTG guerrilla fronts… continued focused military operations have resulted in  neutralization of 67 high-value individuals who belong to communist and local terrorist groups,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said.

He said  military dismantled eight NPA guerrilla fronts last year and weakened 14 others.

Military operations, he added, led to  neutralization of 1,399 members of communist and local terrorist groups as well as to  seizure and recovery of 1,751 firearms.

“Yes, they are weak, scattered and on the run…indeed, it’s time for CPP-NPA-NDF to end armed struggle as expressed in  Joint Oslo Communiqué,” Aguilar maintained, referring to  joint statement signed in Norwegian capital by  Philippine government and NDF  two parties agree on  “principled and peaceful resolution of  armed conflict” by addressing its roots.

“To save lives, especially  hungry and exhausted NPA members, it should have moral courage to do it,” Aguilar added.

FMJ wants Ph out of FATF gray list

By Nidz Godino

“We’ve directed AMLC to accelerate action plans to combat money laundering and counterterrorist financing, and to file cases against violators,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Facebook country should exit from  gray list of global anti-dirty money watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) by October this year, FMJ ordered Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and concerned agencies to put measures in place to make this happen.

 “We’re committed to safeguarding our OFWs by making their transactions safer, reducing costs and easing regulatory burdens to support them,” he stressed.

AMLC executive director Matthew David said the President issued order during  meeting at Malacañang.

Order  was also addressed to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr.

“President has reiterated government’s high-level political commitment and directed all government agencies concerned to swiftly address remaining strategic deficiencies identified by FATF in relation to gray listing of Philippines, since we already did not meet deadline of January 2024, we’re still in gray list,” David said at  press conference.

He said  January exit was  self-imposed deadline of the government,  failed to meet original January 2023 deadline.

“Our aim, aim of government, is to exit gray list by January 2024… self-imposed deadline, we are still hopeful we will exit  gray list this year, 2024,” David said.

Paris-based FATF re-included Philippines in gray list in June 2021 after country failed  mutual evaluation by Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering.

Body  had identified 18 deficiencies in country’s measures against money laundering and terrorist and proliferation financing. Of total number, eight are still outstanding.

Remaining  eight action item plans Philippines has to address include effective risk-based supervision of non-financial businesses and professions like lawyers, accountants, real estate developers and brokers; controls to mitigate risks associated with casino junkets; enhancing and streamlining of access to beneficial ownership information and taking steps to ensure information is accurate and up to date; demonstrating increase in  money laundering and terrorism financing investigations and prosecutions; application of cross-border measures to all main seaports and international airports in the country.

“Most challenging action item is regarding terrorism financing prosecution… we need to file more terrorism financing cases and  ones in charge of complying with these action items are  law enforcement agencies, including AMLC, we should increase our money laundering investigation as well as terror financing as well as prosecution… we should demonstrate cross border measures were applied in all seaports and airports, including false declaration of confiscation and action,” David said.

Gray  list contains countries or jurisdictions under increased monitoring and are required to actively work with FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.

 Jurisdiction  under increased monitoring is required to swiftly resolve identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes.

There are 23 countries in  gray list, including Philippines.

“ Philippines is aiming to address all these deficiencies within 2024 and to trigger  exit process from this FATF gray listing,” he added.

David emphasized longer  Philippines remains on  gray list,  higher  risk that it would enter FATF’s black list.

 Black  list contains countries or jurisdictions with “serious strategic deficiencies to counter money laundering, terrorist financing and financing of proliferation.”

“Of course, we don’t want to be in  blacklisted jurisdiction…and if we will be on  blacklisted list, there are repercussions to that and one of  repercussions is effect on our transactions of our OFWs ,overseas Filipino workers, our OFWs usually send remittances to their families here in the Philippines, if we will be blacklisted… FATF would impose countermeasures on the Philippines and international financial transactions of Filipinos abroad,” AMLC chair said.

Such scenario, he said, could lead to higher costs, additional and stringent requirements and denial of transactions.

“We do not want that to happen, so all government agencies are aiming to address those deficiencies, eight remaining action item plans, and eventually exit  gray list this year,” he maintained.

Getting stuck in  gray list, David pointed out, may also affect Philippines’ credit rating and foreign direct investments.

“Basically there’s already  reputational risk on  Philippines, particularly on  economy…  may affect our credit rating… as you very well know, World Bank and even IMF ,International Monetary Fund is also looking into status of  Philippines regarding gray list,” he said.

David said  Philippines has already complied with  technical compliance aspect, citing  passage of  Anti-Terrorism Act and amendments to  Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Last October, Malacañang issued Memorandum Circular No. 37, requiring urgent implementation of  government’s National Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorism Financing and Counter-Proliferation Financing Strategy 2023-2027 and ordering concerned agencies to support efforts against money laundering and terrorism financing.