Gretchen Ho has more questions, especially on the Philippines as a high risk country, after she received a call from the Norwegian ambassador.
Gretchen’s post about her senior citizens kin being snubbed at a foreign exchange counter in Norway’s Oslo Airport went viral yesterday.
The host said her kin were denied to exchange their $300 for krone upon hearing that they were from the Philippines, citing corruption and money laundering.
The ambassador told Ho that he was surprised about the incident and said it should not have taken place. He will be meeting with the Norwegian foreign ministry to address the issue.
Ho shared the context behind her viral post. She cited the Philippines being removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list in February this year after four years on the list.
The FATF is an intergovernmental body established by G7 countries that combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. The Philippines was included in the FATF grey list in 2021.
Gretchen asked in light of the recent incident if the Philippines is back on the FATF high-risk list for money laundering and dirty money, and if it is not the case, she wondered if it was the financial institution’s internal policy on tourists from the Philippines. She also expressed concern on how this incident will influence Filipinos’ future travels.
‘We want to get some clarity on this, if there is a new policy, given recent events, or just a failure to update and disseminate information. I believe getting some clarity would help not just our family, but other Filipinos who have shared similar experiences at the same airport in Oslo, saying they have been declined foreign exchange services upon knowing their country of origin is the Philippines.
‘So are we back on the ‘high-risk’ list for money laundering? Or is this an overeager clerk who was simply not updated on the grey list?’ Gretche wrote.
The issue of corruption has been the talk of the town, with the Senate and Congress conducting their own investigations on the alleged anomalous government flood control projects.
Investigations are still ongoing, with many Filipinos watching the livestreamed sessions wondering when will there be individuals and parties, including high-profile personalities, found guilty and put to jail.
The September 21 rallies in Metro Manila and key cities in the country drove thousands of people from all walks of life chanting an end to systemic corruption.
Another wave of protests are already planned on November 30, the 162nd birth anniversary of Filipino revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio.