Bilyon-Bilyon on Hold as AMLC Goes After Flood Project Assets

The Anti-Money Laundering Council has moved to seize assets linked to the alleged flood control project scandal, filing three civil forfeiture cases before the Regional Trial Court in Manila on Wednesday, March 25.

According to the council, the petitions cover a wide range of properties that had earlier been frozen by the Court of Appeals. The trial court has already issued two provisional asset preservation orders so the money and real estate involved stay under court control while the cases are being heard.

AMLC said the investigation has been one of its most complex in recent memory because it involves many entities, interconnected accounts, and a huge volume of financial records. Thousands of accounts and multiple transaction layers reportedly had to be checked and reconciled to establish clear links.

The agency stressed that it handled the case with deliberate care because the evidence has to be complete and solid enough to survive close judicial scrutiny. In short, hindi raw puwedeng minadali if the goal is to recover allegedly illicit proceeds tied to public works anomalies.

AMLC said these filings are only the first of several petitions tied to the scandal. As of January 2026, assets frozen in connection with the case had already reached P24.7 billion, underlining how massive the controversy has become.

Source: Philstar.com — https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/03/25/2516772/amlc-files-asset-forfeiture-flood-control-scandal-assets