Philippine Senator Proposes BSP Bank Secrecy Reform Bill

Senate Bill No. 1047, filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, seeks to grant the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) authority to examine bank accounts suspected of involvement in money laundering, fraud, bribery or other financial crimes. Under the measure, BSP could review deposits only with Monetary Board approval and strictly for official purposes.

Estrada said the bill would allow the government to recover illicit wealth, hold offenders accountable and restore public trust in financial institutions. The proposal applies to both peso and foreign currency deposits, balancing depositor privacy with strengthened investigative powers. Estrada presented the measure as a modernisation of safeguards to improve enforcement against illicit funds.

Context: Illegal Online Gambling

The initiative comes amid heightened scrutiny of financial flows tied to unregulated gambling. In August 2025, BSP directed e-wallet providers to disconnect from online gambling sites within 48 hours, addressing concerns that illegal platforms were facilitating unmonitored transactions. Senate hearings revealed nearly 12,000 illegal online gambling sites in the Philippines, including 6,400 online casinos, 234 offshore platforms, and 4,815 e-sabong cockfighting operations.

Strengthening Controls on Gambling Payments

BSP has implemented tighter rules for payment service providers, limiting fund transfers to mitigate money laundering risks. Data showed e-wallets were heavily used for gambling transactions, prompting the central bank to force platform disconnections, cutting revenue streams for illicit operators. These steps demonstrate a proactive approach to enforcement rather than reactive measures.

Linking Bank Secrecy Reforms to Enforcement

Senate Bill 1047 would enable BSP to access bank accounts without blanket secrecy protections, though Monetary Board approval serves as a safeguard to ensure investigations target credible suspicions. The legislation covers peso and foreign currency deposits, addressing schemes where funds are layered across multiple currencies to obscure their origin.

Estrada emphasised the need to protect citizens from the risks associated with illegal online gambling, which continues to generate billions in unregulated revenues. The proliferation of platforms including thousands of e-sabong sites and offshore operators routing payments through international channels underscores the ongoing challenge.

Building Stronger Financial Defenses

The bill complements BSP’s recent mandates, including the disconnection of e-wallets and restrictions on payment service providers, by enabling deeper probes into illicitly derived funds. By allowing investigations into bank-held proceeds, the law aims to close loopholes created by fintech growth while safeguarding legitimate banking activity.

The legislation reflects a broader strategy to balance economic growth and innovation with anti-crime measures, positioning financial privacy as conditional on lawful conduct. Estrada’s proposal would create a more robust framework for tracing illicit online gambling proceeds and improving enforcement across the country.