Western Visayas has contributed to the delisting of the Philippines from the gray list of the Financial Action Task Force.
Prosecutor II Flosemer Chris Gonzalez, spokesperson for the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Western Visayas (RTF ELCAC-6) and chair of the Joint Focus Legal Action Team (JFLAT), said that of the 17 terrorism-financing cases they filed, one has resulted in a conviction, while six are pending preliminary investigation before the Department of Justice.
“These 16 cases and one conviction, 17 in all, contributed to the exit of the Philippines from the gray list on the aspect of prosecution and law enforcement. The Philippines’ removal from the Financial Action Task Force on February 21, 2025, indicates the efficiency of this effort to fight terrorism financing,” he said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas yesterday.
Gonzales said the special task force on countering communist terrorist group research generation filed 10 cases against five personalities in Negros Occidental, where three are on bail, one is abroad, and the other one is hiding.
In Aklan, six cases were filed against three persons.
The conviction of one suspect was promulgated by the Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Kalibo, Aklan, on September 2, 2024, when the accused, a member of the Komiteng Rehiyon Panay taxation unit, pleaded guilty to terrorism financing after being entrapped in an operation on June 2023.
“He was involved in extorting money from businesses, contractors, and politicians from other parts of Western Visayas,” the prosecutor said.
Gonzales said the special task force on countering communist terrorist group research generation filed 10 cases against five personalities in Negros Occidental, where three are on bail, one is abroad, and the other one is hiding.
In Aklan, six cases were filed against three persons.
The conviction of one suspect was promulgated by the Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Kalibo, Aklan, on September 2, 2024, when the accused, a member of the Komiteng Rehiyon Panay taxation unit, pleaded guilty to terrorism financing after being entrapped in an operation on June 2023.
“He was involved in extorting money from businesses, contractors and politicians from other parts of Western Visayas,” the prosecutor said.
The successful prosecution was attributed to effective intelligence gathering, monitoring of key CTG figures, and meticulous case build-up.
Gonzalez added the country’s removal from the gray list will benefit overseas Filipino workers, as it will lead to lower remittance fees.
Meanwhile, Colonel Gilbert Gorero, chief of the Operations Division of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas, urged the public to come forward and submit their affidavit and testimonies.
“The role of the police is on case build-up and we are always looking for evidence. We have more cases to be filed in the future, even in Iloilo and other provinces, but the problem is we still need testimonies, evidence,” he said.
He added that cases were already filed in Negros Occidental and Aklan because they were able to secure evidence. (PNA)