Iligan court hands down 1st conviction under terrorism financing prevention law
THE Iligan City regional trial court (RTC) has convicted a cashier of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Region (RMP-NMR) as “an accessory” in 55 counts of violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the accused is “one of two cashiers of RMP-NMR, a non-government organization (NGO) which obtained donations from unsuspecting foreign organizations to finance the operations of the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army), a terrorist organization as designated by the United States Department of State, the European Union, New Zealand, and the Philippine Government.”
The DOJ said the RTC’s decision is the first-ever conviction 11 years after RA 10168 was enacted into law.
“Despite the first conviction coming 11 years after the enactment of the law, this landmark decision will serve as the foundation and will pave the way for future prosecutions under the law,” the DOJ said.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla called the decision one of the “biggest victories” of the department.
“Terrorism only leads to more violence and suffering, and we must break this cycle and work towards peace,” Remulla said.
He assured that the government will continue to fight until the country is rid of terrorism. “Terrorism has no place in any society, and we must stand together to defeat it,” he said.
