Key Moments:
- Authorities have traced over PHP1 billion ($18.3 million) in alleged money laundering through 13 casinos between 2023 and 2025.
- Senate investigators revealed that the suspected officials lost nearly PHP950 million ($17.4 million) across Metro Manila, Cebu, and Pampanga casinos.
- Asset freezing steps have been initiated following the submission of names and aliases to the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Revelations Surrounding Casino-Based Money Laundering
A recent Senate hearing brought to the forefront a significant money laundering case allegedly involving former engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of Bulacan Province. Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson exposed details of a scheme in which billions of pesos reportedly moved through thirteen casinos located in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Pampanga between 2023 and 2025.
Operation Details and Financial Flows
The group of officials, referred to as the “Bulacan Group of Contractors,” is suspected of losing nearly PHP950 million ($17.4 million) to casino settlements. Nevertheless, their total casino-related transactions, including cash-to-chip and chip-to-cash exchanges, reportedly crossed PHP1 billion ($18.3 million). The specific casinos have not been identified publicly, but figures come from records obtained by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the national regulator for gaming activities.
According to Lacson, five principal individuals used aliases to mask their involvement while gambling. Senate documents outline the group’s method: they would purchase chips for cash, wager minimally, and then redeem chips to present the funds as legitimate gambling winnings. Lacson described the operation as unmistakably representative of a money laundering process rather than ordinary casino play.
₱950 Million Lost at Casinos: The “Bulacan Group of Contractors” Exposed
The revelation that a group of contractors allegedly squandered ₱950 million in casino losses has sparked outrage across the Philippines.
According to Sen. Ping Lacson, the group, now dubbed the “Bulacan… pic.twitter.com/fzZRp1jhCe
— CPRM Radio 🇨🇦🇵🇭🇮🇱 (@cprm013113) September 9, 2025
Legal Measures and Asset Freezing Efforts
Senator Lacson has forwarded the identities and known aliases of the accused officials to the Anti-Money Laundering Council. The intent is to prompt the freezing of assets believed tied to the scandal, reinforcing ongoing probes and curbing further illicit activity.
Links to Infrastructure Project Irregularities
The laundering activities appear intertwined with questionable flood control initiatives in Bulacan. Despite substantial funding allocations, local flood projects reportedly failed to deliver meaningful improvements due to allegedly manipulated bidding, falsified progress documentation, and altered public records. In one case, a PHP92.58 million ($1.7 million) project was documented at 46 percent completion just two days after work began, substantially overstating actual progress.
Ongoing Casino Visits Despite Growing Scrutiny
Even as government monitoring intensified, individuals implicated in the operation reportedly persisted with regular casino visits. One official was observed at a casino event on September 1, 2025, coinciding with an ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon panel inquiry.
Oversight and Legislative Response
Philippine law mandates that casinos, as covered institutions, be subject to scrutiny for suspicious money movements. Transactions with potential links to money laundering or corruption are required to undergo official investigation as stated under the nation’s Anti-Money Laundering Law.
Outlook for Accountability
This case highlights ongoing challenges in combatting corruption and illegal financial flows within public works and gaming sectors. The coordinated government effort to trace, investigate, and freeze assets reflects an increased drive towards financial transparency. Upcoming months are likely to see intensified legal proceedings as authorities aim to recover public funds and restore faith in both infrastructure governance and the accredited gaming industry.
| Key Figures | Amount (PHP) | Amount (USD) | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lost in Casino Settlements | 950,000,000 | 17,400,000 | Official Group’s Casino Losses |
| Total Casino Transactions | 1,000,000,000 | 18,300,000 | Cash-to-Chip and Chip-to-Cash |
| Flood Project Value | 92,580,000 | 1,700,000 | Bulacan Flood Control (Reported) |
- Author
Daniel Williams
