The Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has been awarded the 2025 Best Egmont Case Award (BECA) by financial intelligence outfit the Egmont Group’s plenary in Luxembourg.
This year’s BECA – an award that recognizes standout regulatory work in global money laundering and terrorist financing cases – was bestowed earlier this month for the AMLC’s work in uncovering the criminal activities of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) licensee in Bamban, Tarlac.
The POGO in question, Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, was allegedly involved in human trafficking and cryptocurrency scams. This was also the case that saw Alice Guo – the former mayor of Bamban later found to be a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping – dismissed and later arrested on allegations that she had aided Zun Yuan Technology’s illegal operations.
The Egmont Group said the AMLC was voted as this year’s BECA recipient due to the volume, case complexity, innovative financial intelligence methods and developed international cooperation network that was behind the investigation.
In a statement, the AMLC said the winning case focused on an investigation that benefited from the AMLC’s contribution through valuable intelligence and effective domestic and international cooperation. The case, it added, showcased the effective collaboration among the Senate of the Philippines, House of Representatives, Office of the Ombudsman, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police and the Intelligence Service-Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The receipt of the BECA by the AMLC highlights the vital role it played in investigating and prosecuting those involved in the unlawful activities conducted in the said POGO, including the criminal networks involved
“This international recognition affirms the AMLC’s integral role in maintaining the country’s financial integrity,” said AMLC Executive Director Matthew David.
“Addressing the evolving money laundering risks requires strong national coordination and international cooperation, which is bolstered by financial intelligence. The winning case best exemplifies how these three components have successfully dismantled an intricate criminal network.”
The BECA annual competition was launched in 2011 by the Egmont Group, an international organization of 177 financial intelligence units globally. The group said the competition aims to inspire Egmont members to share their knowledge, expertise and experience in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
