Palace blames previous gov't for gray list woes

Malacañang yesterday expressed optimism that President Marcos can clean up what it called the "mess" left behind by the Duterte administration, which it blamed for the Philippines' previous inclusion in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray list.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

Last month, the top global dirty money watchdog removed the Philippines from its gray list of countries that are under increased monitoring. The country is working with the task force to address strategic deficiencies to counter money laundering and terrorist financing.

According to the task force, the Philippines strengthened the effectiveness of its efforts against money laundering and terrorism financing to meet the commitments in its action plan on the deficiencies identified in June 2021.

"We, especially the President, can clean the mess left behind by the previous administration," Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a statement in Filipino.