THE Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) secured a major conviction with the decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) to convict Janet Lim Napoles of money laundering in connection with the ‘pork barrel’ scam.
AMLC said RTC Branch 158 in Pasig City convicted Napoles of 13 counts of money laundering due to her orchestration of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam in 2013.
The case was initiated and prosecuted by the AMLC and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The decision marked another milestone in the fight against corruption and financial crimes.
‘This sends a strong message: those who abuse public funds will be held accountable,’ said AMLC Executive Director Atty. Matthew M. David.
‘The AMLC welcomes this court decision as a demonstration of AMLC’s relentless pursuit of individuals who exploit the financial system to conceal corruption,’ he added.
AMLC said this is the second conviction secured by the AMLC against Napoles involving the ‘pork barrel’ scam, following a 2024 decision issued by RTC Branch 24, Manila-affirming AMLC’s effectiveness in prosecuting money laundering cases linked to corruption.
In this 2025 conviction, AMLC said the Trial Court found that Napoles planned a scheme involving the creation of bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) to receive pork barrel funds for ghost projects.
By making it appear that the funds originated from legitimate sources, Napoles concealed its criminal origin-an act that fully satisfied the elements of money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended.
Napoles was sentenced to 7 to 14 years of imprisonment for each count and was ordered to pay a P94.15-million fine. AMLC said, however, the judgment of conviction may be subject to appeal.
MOA between ICI, AMLC
Meanwhile, the AMLC and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for inter-agency collaboration and coordination in light of the ongoing flood project investigations.
The partnership aims to enhance information sharing and coordinated action between the AMLC and the ICI to support more effective investigations.
‘This partnership is a strong demonstration of our collective resolve to uphold integrity in public service, ensure that illicit financial activities tied to infrastructure project anomalies are thoroughly investigated, and to hold accountable those responsible,’ David said.
The MOA outlines provisions for interagency coordination, information sharing, and joint efforts to trace, preserve, and recover assets linked to unlawful activities.
The agreement also reinforces the AMLC’s mandate to investigate money laundering offenses arising from corruption, malversation, plunder, bribery, and related unlawful activities.
Established under Executive Order No. 94, Series of 2025, the ICI was created in response to public calls for greater transparency and accountability in infrastructure spending.
Composed of individuals with unquestionable integrity and expertise, the Commission is tasked to conduct an in-depth investigation into alleged irregularities and misuse of funds in flood control and other infrastructure projects.