The Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) has filed terrorism financing cases against five individuals affiliated with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its allied front organizations in Negros Island.
In a press conference yesterday, PRO-6 Regional Operations Division chief Colonel Gilbert Gorero identified the respondents as Clarisa Ramos, Felipe Levy Gelle, Dharyl Albañez, Federico Salvilla and Perla Pavillar for violations of Republic Act 10168, or the Terrorism and Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.
M/Sergeant Francisc John Dumdumaya, the deputized Anti-Money Laundering Council Financial Investigator of PRO-6, represented the Philippine National Police in the filing of cases in Iloilo City on Monday, December 2.
“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,” Gorero said.
He said they could not elaborate on the details since the cases are already in court.
“This case is new for everyone. The purpose why we are doing the investigation and filing charges is to cut the source of funds,” he said, adding that non-government organizations (NGOs) are usually used as fronts.
Gorero lauded the Regional Peace and Order Council for passing a resolution for NGOs to seek accreditation from local government units, noting that one of the requirements is that they are not affiliated with the CPP-NPA-NDF.
Colonel Erwin Rommel Lamzon, Assistant Division Commander for Administration of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said the exceptional work of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, through its Joint Focused Legal Team, PRO-6, Philippine Army, National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency and other security agencies, resulted in a significant victory in the anti-terrorism campaign.
“This achievement is a testament to their dedication in ending the decades-long insurgency by dismantling the financial network of the communist terrorist group in Panay and the whole Western Visayas,” Lamzon said in the same press briefing.
In September this year, the region witnessed a landmark decision with the conviction of Ian Arevallo by the Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Kalibo, Aklan, after he pleaded guilty to being an accomplice in terrorism financing. (PNA)