Senate summons Rodriguez family over suspicious money laundering

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has summoned seven individuals identified as the Rodriguez family to explain their alleged involvement in the suspicious entry of millions of dollars into the Philippines.

Senator Richard Gordon stated that the Rodriguezes are suspected of being part of a syndicate that bypasses the Anti-Money Laundering Act by failing to declare large sums of foreign currency entering the country.

This group allegedly brought in US$283 million of the total US$633 million that entered the Philippines between September 2019 and March 2020, primarily from Hong Kong and Singapore.

Gordon specifically mentioned Elizabeth Rodriguez, who allegedly brought in US$42.5 million from September 2019 to February 2020.

He also noted that Simon John Rodriguez was apprehended by the Bureau of Customs on September 26, 2019, for failing to declare US$700,000 in cash upon arrival from Singapore.

Despite this apprehension, Simon John was reportedly allowed to travel at least 40 times, during which he transported a total of US$32.6 million.