President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday threatened to "whack" the Philippines' money laundering council, a regulatory body headed by the central bank governor, accusing its officials of corruption and failing to do their job. Duterte, given to incendiary language, was furious that the central bank's Anti-Money Laundering Council had failed to provide him an unspecified "assessment report".
"I'll count one to three and if you don't resign, I will treat you as a drug addict," said the 71-year-old, who is waging a brutal anti-drug campaign that has left more than 5,000 people dead since he became president in July. In a speech after signing the 2017 national budget, he said: "Better prepare there because I'll give you a whack." "You are all corrupt," he said, without naming any official.
"I am going to charge all of you there, criminally." The four-member council is the state regulatory body enforcing the country's anti-money laundering law. It is headed by central bank governor Amando Tetangco and also includes the government's chief insurance and securities regulators, as well as the council's executive director. Duterte did not spell out what was in the report he was demanding.