AMLC bares Bong's P87-M 'unexplained wealth'

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday lauded the report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on the supposed unexplained wealth of detained Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. amounting to P87.6 million.

In a testimony before the Sandiganbayan on Thursday, the AMLC said that Revilla deposited the amount to his various bank accounts as well as those of his family members.

Revilla is accused of plunder in the embezzlement of Priority Development Assistance Funds or pork barrel scam and is detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center.

AMLC said the deposits were made between April 2006 and April 2010, matching the dates specified in the testimonies of whistleblowers, who are former agents of alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

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The agency noted that the amount was not declared in Revilla's Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, or SALN.

For her part, De Lima said the AMLC statement significantly backs the whistleblowers' disclosures, especially those of Benhur Luy, that Revilla received kickbacks from the multibillion-peso scam.

In a state news report, De Lima called the AMLC report an important "development" in the government's case against Revilla.

Luy had also claimed that Revilla's kickbacks were received through the intervention of Richard Cambe, his senior staff member, who is also charged with plunder.