MANILA — The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has opened enforcement action proceedings against banks involved in the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

Responding to a question from Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, Senate Finance Committee Chair Grace Poe spoke for the AMLAC during the agency's budget deliberation at the Senate for 2025.

"Mr. President, the AMLAC opened the enforcement action proceedings against those banks involved in Alice Guo's case to determine if they have violated the requirement under AMLC to file STRs with the AMLC. These proceedings are ongoing and should the AMLC find that they indeed violated the said requirement, the AMLC will file formal charges against said banks where they may be liable for fines ranging from P250,000 to P500,000 per transaction but not exceeding P10 to P20 million depending on the attendant circumstances,” Poe said.

"This is without prejudice to their criminality liability under AMLA if their officers are found to have knowingly facilitated the crime of money laundering. Of course, there's nothing better than preventing it and prevention actually can be done if there's strict enforcement of the law,” she added.

Hontiveros led the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality in probing the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in the country, which has led to the uncovering of Guo's alleged illegal activities in the country.