THE Department of Justice (DOJ) filed six counts of terrorism financing charges against five Negros-based allies of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
These cases were filed before Iloilo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 31, the designated terrorism court in Western Visayas, against five members of Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG). The individuals’ real names were withheld for security purposes. They were charged with violating Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10168, also known as “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.”
PDG is based in Sitio Mohon, Barangay Binicuil, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
The terrorism financing charges stem from an investigation and case build-up conducted by Police Regional Office 6, 3rd Infantry Division, and the Joint Focused Legal Action Team (JFLAT) of the Legal Cooperation and Peace, Law Enforcement and Development Support (PLEDS) Clusters of the Regional Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict 6 (RTF-ELCAC 6). The investigation uncovered financial support provided by these individuals to the CTG.
Section 8 of the Act prohibits dealing with the property or funds of individuals or groups officially designated as involved in terrorist or other illegal activities, specifically those who provide any property, money, or financial services to these terror groups or people. Those found guilty may face a prison sentence of up to 40 years or even life imprisonment, along with a fine of at least 500,000 pesos and up to 1 million pesos.
Police Regional Director Brigadier General Jack Wanky, in a statement delivered by PRO6 Regional Operations Division Chief Colonel Gilbert Gorero, said that these cases underwent preliminary investigation before the Department of Justice, all parties were given an opportunity to be heard pursuant to the rules on preliminary investigation, and due process was observed.
Acknowledging terrorism financing as the most utilized strategy by the CTG in their desperate bid to overthrow the democratic government, Brigadier General Jack Wanky, Police Regional Director of PRO6, reiterated their commitment to continue dismantling the remaining terrorism financing network of the group in Western Visayas.
Meanwhile, Major General Marion R. Sison, Commander of the 3ID, in a statement delivered by 3ID Assistant Division Commander for Administration Colonel Erwin Rommel Lamzon, pledged a similar commitment to cutting off the source and generation of funds for the CTG. He highlighted the 3ID’s unwavering commitment to supporting the campaign against terrorism financing and assured to work alongside PNP counterparts and other agencies to ensure that those who seek to fund terrorism are brought to justice.
Moreover, he commended the exceptional work of the involved government forces for their tireless efforts that resulted in the successful case build-up and subsequent filing of six counts of terrorism financing charges against the CTG allies.
“This achievement is a testament to your dedication in ending the decades-long insurgency by dismantling the financial network of the CTG in Western Visayas,” he concluded.
Editor’s Note: This article has been sourced from the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division of the Philippine Army Facebook Page.
