Senator Win Gatchalian has pledged to pursue a deeper investigation into the role of banks and financial institutions in money laundering activities linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Gatchalian raised concerns over why banks failed to flag transactions amounting to P7 billion, which were allegedly used by former Mayor Alice Guo and her associates to establish a POGO hub in Bamban. “How did the P7 billion get through without being declared by the bank or detected by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)?” Gatchalian questioned.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Gatchalian emphasized the seriousness of money laundering, calling it “equally as big of a crime.” He also announced plans to file a resolution soon to investigate the issue further.

The senator previously noted that criminal activities associated with POGO hubs—such as human trafficking, kidnapping, and scams—could have been prevented had banks adhered strictly to the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Gatchalian has long advocated for the shutdown of all POGO operations in the country, highlighting that transactions involving large sums of money tied to POGOs should have been flagged by banks.

In previous Senate hearings, the Anti-Money Laundering Council stated it was still investigating the source of funds used for the construction of the Bamban POGO hub. An inquiry into the compliance of banks handling POGO-related transactions is also ongoing.