Southeast Asia · Country coverage

AML/CTF Compliance in the Philippines

The Philippines regulates AML/CTF through the AMLC under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Republic Act No. 9160). See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.

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Screening coverage for the Philippines
  • Sanctions & PEP screening
  • Adverse media checks
  • Customer identity verification
  • Jurisdiction risk checks
  • Ongoing monitoring

Key facts

AML supervisor / FIUAnti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)
FATF statusAPG member (FATF-style body)
Primary legislationAnti-Money Laundering Act (Republic Act No. 9160, 2001)
Overview

AML/CTF compliance in the Philippines.

The Philippines regulates AML/CTF through the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the financial intelligence unit tasked with implementing the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act. Sector supervision sits with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Insurance Commission, and other designated agencies.

The Anti-Money Laundering Act (Republic Act No. 9160) and its implementing rules set out the duties of covered persons. Institutions must carry out an institutional risk assessment, implement a risk-based ML/TF prevention programme, and perform customer due diligence with beneficial ownership checks. Enhanced due diligence applies to PEPs and higher-risk cases, covered and suspicious transactions must be reported to the AMLC, and records must be kept for at least five years.

MemberCheck helps teams meet these obligations by screening customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifying identities, and monitoring risk continuously, with a clear audit trail behind every decision.

Regulation

Key laws and regulators.

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Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)

The Philippines' financial intelligence unit, tasked with implementing the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.

Anti-Money Laundering Act (Republic Act No. 9160)

The principal AML statute, which with its implementing rules sets institutional risk assessment, due diligence, reporting, and record-keeping duties for covered persons.

Supervisory authorities

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Insurance Commission supervise AML compliance across their respective sectors.

Obligations

What regulated businesses must do.

  • Carry out an institutional ML/TF risk assessment
  • Implement a risk-based ML/TF prevention programme
  • Perform customer due diligence and beneficial ownership checks
  • Apply enhanced due diligence to PEPs and higher-risk cases
  • Report covered and suspicious transactions to the AMLC
  • Keep customer and transaction records for at least five years
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FAQ

Common questions.

Who supervises AML/CTF in the Philippines?

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is the country's financial intelligence unit. Supervisory authorities include Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Insurance Commission.

What is the main AML law in the Philippines?

The Anti-Money Laundering Act (Republic Act No. 9160) and its implementing rules set risk assessment, due diligence, reporting, and record-keeping duties for covered persons.

Is the Philippines a member of FATF?

The Philippines is a member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, a FATF-style regional body, and applies FATF standards through that membership.

How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in the Philippines?

MemberCheck screens customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifies identities, and monitors risk continuously, with an audit trail behind every decision.

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