The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has approved the issuance of freeze orders against all bank accounts of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), and other groups declared as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).
(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
This was announced on Sunday, Dec. 27, by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
“Per Executive Director Mel Georgie Racela, the AMLC approved its freeze order against the CPP-NPA and other designated terrorist groups last December 23,” Guevarra said in a text message to journalists covering the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“The AMLC can already move in the premises at any time after due designation by the ATC,” he said.
However, Guevarra did not divulge the names of the persons, groups of persons, and the banks in which the accounts were registered or deposited.
The DOJ secretary is a member of the ATC. He chaired the technical working group that crafted the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 11479, the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020.
Under ATA, the AMLC can issue a 20-day freeze order on bank accounts and assets of persons or groups of persons suspected of committing terrorist acts or supporting terrorist activities.
Last December 25, Christmas day, the ATC designated the CPP and NPA as terrorist organizations.
In a resolution issued last December 9, the ATC found probable evidence that the CPP and NPA have committed acts in violation of Republic Act No. 11479, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Earlier in 2017, President Duterte had issued a proclamation which declared the CPP and NPA as communist organizations under RA 10168, the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppressing Act of 2012.
RA 10168 also authorizes the AMLC to examine the bank accounts of persons and groups identified as terrorists.