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Republic Act No. 10167· Enacted 2012-06-06

Anti-Money Laundering Amendment (RA 10167) — BatasKo ELI5

RA 10167 strengthens the AMLA law — freeze orders na agad sa 24 horas, at pwedeng tingnan ng AMLC ang iyong bank account. Alamin ang iyong mga karapatan.

ELI5financial-lawOFW RelevantRA-10167financial-lawAMLA

Ang Batas sa Madaling Salita— ELI5

RA 10167 gives the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) faster and stronger powers to freeze suspicious bank accounts and peek into deposits linked to illegal money. If your account gets frozen, you have 20 days to fight it in court.

Official text — Republic Act No. 10167

Jump to section ↓6 sections

Preamble

Fifteenth Congress

Second Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-fifth day of July, two thousand eleven.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10167 June 06, 2012

AN ACT TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAW, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 10 AND 11 OF

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9160,

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ACT OF 2001, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 10 — of Republic Act No. 9160, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 10 of Republic Act No. 9160, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 10.

Freezing of Monetary Instrument or Property.

– Upon verified

ex parte

petition by the AMLC and after determination that probable cause exists that any monetary instrument or property is in any way related to an unlawful activity as defined in Section 3(i) hereof, the Court of Appeals may issue a freeze order, which shall be effective immediately. The freeze order shall be for a period of twenty (20) days unless extended by the court. In any case, the court should act on the petition to freeze within twenty-four (24) hours from filing of the petition. If the application is filed a day before a nonworking day, the computation of the twenty-four (24)-hour period shall exclude the nonworking days."

"A person whose account has been frozen may file a motion to lift the freeze order and the court must resolve this motion before the expiration of the twenty (20)-day original freeze order."

"No court shall issue a temporary restraining order or a writ of injunction against any freeze order, except the Supreme Court."

Section 11 — of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 11 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 11.

Authority to Inquire into Bank Deposits.

– Notwithstanding the provisions of Republic Act No. 1405, as amended; Republic Act No. 6426, as amended; Republic Act No. 8791; and other laws, the AMLC may inquire into or examine any particular deposit or investment, including related accounts, with any banking institution or non-bank financial institution upon order of any competent court based on an

ex parte

application in cases of violations of this Act, when it has been established that there is probable cause that the deposits or investments, including related accounts involved, are related to an unlawful activity as defined in Section 3(i) hereof or a money laundering offense under Section 4 hereof; except that no court order shall be required in cases involving activities defined in Section 3(i)(1), (2), and (12) hereof, and felonies or offenses of a nature similar to those mentioned in Section 3(i)(1), (2), and (12), which are Punishable under the penal laws of other countries, and terrorism and conspiracy to commit terrorism as defined and penalized under Republic Act No. 9372."

"The Court of Appeals shall act on the application to inquire into or examine any deposit or investment with any banking institution or non-bank financial institution within twenty-four (24) hours from filing of the application."

"To ensure compliance with this Act, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may, in the course of a periodic or special examination, check the compliance of a Covered institution with the requirements of the AMLA and its implementing rules and regulations."

"For purposes of this section, ‘related accounts’ shall refer to accounts, the funds and sources of which originated from and/or are materially linked to the monetary instrument(s) or property(ies) subject of the freeze order(s)."

"A court order

ex parte

must first be obtained before the AMLC can inquire into these related Accounts:

Provided,

That the procedure for the

ex parte

application of the

ex parte

court order for the principal account shall be the same with that of the related accounts."

"The authority to inquire into or examine the main account and the related accounts shall comply with the requirements of Article III, Sections 2 and 3 of the 1987 Constitution, which are hereby incorporated by reference."

Section 3 — Separability Clause.→

Section 3.

Separability Clause.

– If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be void, or unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 4 — Repealing Clause.→

Section 4.

Repealing Clause.

– All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof as are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly:

Provided,

That the penal provisions shall not apply to acts done prior to the effectivity of the AMLA on October 17, 2001 .

Section 5 — Effectivity.→

Section 5.

Effectivity.

– This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the

Official Gazette

or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.)

FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

(Sgd.)

JUAN PONCE ENRILE

President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3009 and House Bill No. 4275 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on June 6, 2012.

(Sgd.)

MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP

Secretary General

House of Representatives

(Sgd.)

EMMA LIRIO-REYES

Secretary of Senate

Approved:

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

President of the Philippines

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

Full text on BatasKo. Original source: Official Gazette / Lawphil.

Imagine waking up to find your bank account frozen — you can't withdraw, can't pay bills, walang mangyayari sa pera mo. That's exactly what RA 10167 made faster and easier for the government to do when it suspects money laundering.

But here's what most Filipinos don't know: you have rights even when your account is frozen — and a strict 20-day window for the government to justify it.

ELI5 / Madaling Sabihin: RA 10167 binigyan ng mas mabilis na kapangyarihan ang AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) para i-freeze ang mga bank account na pinaghihinalaang may kinalaman sa illegal na gawain. Sa loob ng 24 na oras, pwede nang kumilos ang Court of Appeals. Kung na-freeze ang account mo, may 20 araw kang makipaglaban.

Real Filipino Scenario: Si Rodrigo mula Cagayan de Oro

Si Rodrigo, isang 38-taong-gulang na hardware store owner sa Cagayan de Oro, ay nagpadala ng malaking halaga ng pera sa ilang business suppliers sa loob ng ilang linggo. Wala siyang alam na ang kanyang transaksyon ay lumabas sa isang suspicious transaction report ng kanyang bangko.

Isang umaga, natanggap niya ang sulat — frozen ang kanyang business account. Hindi niya ma-access ang ₱840,000 na pondo. Walang advance notice. Wala ring kasuhan.

Ang nangyari: nag-file ng ex parte petition ang AMLC sa Court of Appeals, at sa loob ng 24 na oras, nag-issue ang korte ng freeze order.

Ang tama niyang gawin: mag-file agad ng motion to lift the freeze order sa Court of Appeals bago matapos ang 20 araw — dahil pagkatapos nun, automatic na ma-eextend kung hindi kumikilos ang korte.

What the Law Actually Says

RA 10167 amended Sections 10 and 11 of Republic Act No. 9160 (the original Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001).

Section 10 — Freeze Orders:

  • The AMLC can petition the Court of Appeals ex parte (without telling you first) to freeze your monetary instrument or property
  • The Court of Appeals must act within 24 hours of the petition
  • A freeze order is effective immediately upon issuance
  • The freeze lasts 20 days unless the court extends it
  • If your account is frozen, you can file a motion to lift the freeze — the court must resolve it before the 20-day period expires
  • Only the Supreme Court can issue a TRO or injunction against a freeze order

Section 11 — Authority to Examine Bank Deposits:

  • The AMLC can look into your bank deposits and investments with a court order (ex parte application)
  • The Court of Appeals must act on the application within 24 hours
  • For terrorism-related cases and specific predicate crimes, no court order is needed before AMLC can examine accounts
  • The BSP can check banks' compliance during regular examinations
  • "Related accounts" — meaning accounts linked to a frozen account — can also be examined, but a separate court order is required

What This Means for You

Sa madaling salita: binibigyan ng batas na ito ang gobyerno ng mabilis na paraan para pigilan ang paggalaw ng pera na pinaghihinalaang galing sa krimen — drugs, human trafficking, tax evasion, at iba pa.

Pero hindi ito walang limitasyon. Ang sinumang may frozen account ay may karapatang:

  1. Malaman na ang kanyang account ay na-freeze (pagkatapos na mangyari)
  2. Mag-file ng motion to lift the freeze order agad
  3. Makakuha ng desisyon bago matapos ang 20-day freeze period
  4. Magreklamo sa Supreme Court — ang tanging korte na maaaring mag-issue ng TRO laban sa freeze order

Ang proteksyon sa Constitutional rights (Article III, Sections 2 and 3 ng 1987 Constitution) ay naka-incorporate sa batas — kaya kahit mabilis ang proseso, kailangang may probable cause pa rin.

What Most Filipinos Get Wrong

Mali: "Kapag na-freeze ang account ko, tapos na — nawala na ang pera ko." Tama: Ang freeze order ay pansamantala lang — 20 days ang default. Hindi ito confiscation. Kailangan pa ng hiwalay na kaso para makuha ng gobyerno ang pera.

Mali: "Kailangan mag-inform sa akin ng AMLC bago i-freeze ang account." Tama: Ex parte ang petition — ibig sabihin, hindi kailangang ibalam sa iyo bago gumawa ng aksyon. Pero pagkatapos ng freeze, kailangang bigyan ka ng pagkakataon na lumaban.

Mali: "Pwede ako magreklamo sa RTC para ma-lift ang freeze order." Tama: Ang freeze orders ng AMLC ay sa Court of Appeals lang pwedeng harapin — hindi sa RTC. At ang TRO laban sa freeze order? Supreme Court lang ang may kapangyarihan dun.

Mali: "Ang AMLA ay para lang sa malalaking malalaking negosyo." Tama: Kahit personal account, kung may pinaghihinalaang illegal na source ang pondo, pwede itong ma-freeze — kabilang ang mga account ng OFW na nagpapadala ng malaking halaga.

Para sa OFWs / For OFWs

Ang AMLA ay direktang may kinalaman sa mga OFW. Bakit?

Nagpapadala kayo ng malaking halaga ng pera sa Pilipinas. Remittances lang ang trabaho ninyo — pero pag lumabas ang transaksyon na "unusual" sa sistema ng bangko, pwedeng mag-trigger ng suspicious transaction report.

Mga sitwasyon na pwedeng mag-flag sa OFW remittances:

  • Biglaang malaking halaga pagkatapos ng matagal na walang transaksyon
  • Maraming beses na padala sa magkakaibang tao sa loob ng maikling panahon
  • Pera na ipinapadala sa taong wala sa listahan ng inyong regular na benepisyaryo

Ang dapat malaman ng bawat OFW:

  • Laging may paper trail ng inyong kita — employment contract, payslips, na-sign na remittance receipts
  • Kung gumagamit ng remittance center, siguraduhing licensed at regulated sa bansang pinagtrabahuhan ninyo
  • Kung na-freeze ang account ng inyong pamilya dahil sa padala ninyo — kumonsulta agad sa abogado o sa PAO (1-800-10-PAO-8888)
  • Ang AMLC ay may coordination agreements sa ibang bansa — kaya kahit nasa abroad ka, pwedeng ma-investigate ang iyong transaksyon

What to Do If Your Account Is Frozen

  1. Humingi agad ng kopya ng freeze order. Alamin kung anong probable cause ang nabanggit. Ang Court of Appeals ang mag-iissue nito.

  2. Kumuha ng abogado o pumunta sa PAO. Huwag mag-atubiling humingi ng tulong sa Public Attorney's Office (PAO hotline: 1-800-10-PAO-8888). Libreng serbisyo para sa mga hindi kayang magbayad ng abogado.

  3. Mag-file ng Motion to Lift the Freeze Order. Kailangang gawin ito bago matapos ang 20-day period. Kailangan mong patunayan na hindi illegal ang pinagmulan ng pondo.

  4. Maghanda ng mga dokumento. Payslips, resibo ng remittance, business records, bank statements — anumang makakapagpaliwanag kung saan nanggaling ang pera.

  5. Huwag mag-panic at huwag mag-withdraw bago pa ma-freeze. Ang paggawa nito pagkatapos malamang may imbestigasyon ay pwedeng magpababa ng inyong credibility sa korte.

Related Laws

  • RA 9160 — The original Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 (AMLA) na in-amend ng RA 10167
  • RA 9372 — Human Security Act (terrorism-related cases na hindi na kailangan ng court order para sa AMLC inquiry)
  • RA 1405 — Law on Secrecy of Bank Deposits (AMLA ang isa sa exceptions)
  • RA 6426 — Foreign Currency Deposit Act (din na-except ng AMLA sa certain cases)

FAQs

Q: Pwede bang ma-freeze ang account ko kahit wala akong kasong kriminal? A: Oo. Ang freeze order ay administrative/civil action ng AMLC — hindi kailangan ng criminal conviction. Kailangan lang ng probable cause na ang pondo ay related sa "unlawful activity" ayon sa Section 3(i) ng AMLA.

Q: Ilang araw ang palugit ko para lumaban sa freeze order? A: 20 araw mula sa pagkakabigay ng freeze order. Sa loob ng panahong ito, dapat kang mag-file ng motion to lift. Ang korte ay kailangang resolbahin ang motion bago matapos ang 20 araw.

Q: Pwede bang tulungan ng bangko ko para malaman kung bakit na-freeze ang account? A: Ang bangko ay may obligasyong mag-report ng suspicious transactions sa AMLC — pero ang freeze order ay galing sa Court of Appeals, hindi sa bangko. Ang AMLC at ang korte ang dapat kausapin, hindi lang ang bangko.

Sources

// TODO: Verify official gazette link for RA 10167 at officialgazette.gov.ph

General information only. Not legal advice. Para sa legal na tulong, makipag-ugnayan sa Public Attorney's Office (PAO) sa 1-800-10-PAO-8888.

By Irvin Abarca & Claude (AI Research Partner) · Published May 13, 2026 · Updated May 13, 2026 · 6 min read

Legal disclaimer: BatasKo provides general legal information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a licensed Filipino lawyer or the Public Attorney's Office (PAO).

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