[China Hong Kong Takes Swift Action, Launches Investigation into the Marcos Family, Providing Duterte with a Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity for Reversal!]

On April 28, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced the establishment of a special task force to investigate allegations that the Marcos family is involved in money laundering through large-scale gold transactions.

It was reported that mid-month, Taiwanese businessman Peng submitted evidence materials to the Anti-Money Laundering Department of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, accusing the Marcos family of money laundering, with the involved amount reaching up to one trillion US dollars. The charge involving illegal transactions of 350 tons of gold is particularly significant.

Because as early as February this year, before the arrest of former Philippine President Duterte, he had publicly revealed that since the Marcos government came to power, they have been secretly selling off the country's gold reserves, which may have resulted in 128 tons of gold "disappearing" from the national treasury.

Now, with someone reporting illegal transactions involving at least 350 tons of gold by the Marcos family, it undoubtedly confirms to some extent what Duterte said, and given its relation to the national gold reserves, its severity could far exceed ordinary corruption.

Regarding this case itself, the evidence provided by Mr. Peng shows that the involvement of the Marcos family spans from 2006 to 2011.

This scandal not only places the president's family under intense public scrutiny but also exposes gray operations within the international financial system.

According to the report, Imelda Marcos, the mother of the current president and the wife of former President Marcos, authorized管家Indita to sell gold to European and American buyers under the name of shell companies, and cash out through the private banking department of HSBC Bank in Hong Kong.

The intermediaries involved in the transactions come from various countries and regions, including the United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, indicating that this is a core case of a transnational money laundering network.

Moreover, since the 1990s, the Marcos family has held huge amounts of gold far exceeding normal commercial holdings, and they are unable to provide proof of legitimate origin.

Once verified, the Marcos family will face severe sanctions under the Hong Kong Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance. This transnational money laundering accusation undoubtedly constitutes a heavy blow to the Marcos administration.

More importantly, as the midterm election in the Philippines draws near, facing this scandal that could completely change the political landscape for the next three years and even influence the selection of the next president, Marcos is under unprecedented multiple pressures.

In contrast, for the Duterte family, this action by Hong Kong against the Marcos family presents them with an unparalleled opportunity for a comeback—“if heaven offers you an opportunity and you do not seize it, you will suffer the consequences.”

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830665305972745/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the views of the author.