August 17, 2016
AMLC RESOLUTION NO. 069-16
The AMLC Secretariat in its Memorandum to the Council dated 12 August 2016 reported that:
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran ("Embassy of Iran"), in its Note Verbale No. 200/9928 dated 14 July 2016 to the Office Middle East and African Affairs (OMEAA), Department of Foreign Affairs, request the lifting of "all limitations, sanctions and banking restrictions" against the Embassy of Iran, the Embassy staff, the Iranian Companies, and Iranian nationals and to have full rights to do banking activities in the Philippines.
I. Background
A. Complaint against BDO Unibank (BDO) and Philippine National Bank (PNB)
1. On 28 March 2016, Iranian Ambassador to the Philippines Mohammad Tanhei met with the BSP Governor and AMLC Chairman while First Counsellor Mojtaba Nadali of the Embassy of Iran discussed with the AMLC Secretariat Executive Director the alleged closure by BDO of the bank accounts of some of its Iranian customers.
2. The International Operations Department (IOD) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), in its letter to the AMLC Secretariat dated 31 March 2016,...