President Marcos honors PDEA as among the Champions of the PH FATF GREY List Exit

His Excellency President Ferdinand R Marcos, Jr., honored the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) along with other individuals and government institutions whose efforts became instrumental in the removal of the Philippines from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, at the Ceremonial Hall, Malacañang Palace, Manila on May 5, 2025.

President Marcos, Jr., assisted by Executive Secretary Lucas P Bersamin, the Chairperson of the National Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing/Counter-Proliferation Financing Coordinating Committee (NACC), presented a Certificate of Commendation to PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez during the event.

Aside from the commendation, a Plaque of Recognition was also presented to PDEA. Certificates of Recognition were awarded to the Agency’s Deputized Anti-Money Laundering Council Financial Investigators, or DAFIs, led by Director Martin Francia of the Investigation Service. DAFIs acted as force multipliers in the national development of financial intelligence, investigation, prosecution, and confiscation in relation to money laundering and its predicate offenses.

A total of 232 individuals and 42 institutions belonging to government agencies, financial institutions, private professional associations, and non-governmental organizations made up the list of honorees. They are recognized for helping improve the country’s financial system, leading to the country’s FATF delisting.

In his speech, President Marcos credited the Philippines’ FATF grey list exit to unity, strong leadership, and government-wide coordination, highlighting such accomplishment as a testament to the country’s commitment to financial integrity. “We must work even harder to institutionalize reforms. We must tighten our enforcement against money laundering and terrorism financing”, the President said.

President Marcos emphasized that keeping the country off the grey list for good is now the shared responsibility of the government and the Filipino people, and urged everyone to do so in the spirit of “Bagong Pilipinas” — a nation rooted in transparency, accountability, and inclusive development. Photos: PCO