Those who finance terrorist organizations "will face extreme consequences as harsh as those met by the terrorists themselves," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla warned on Monday, May 20.
Remulla issued the warning after the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed charges in court against humanitarian group Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET) for allegedly financing the New People’s Army (NPA).
In his warning, Remulla also said; “Either you are with us in safeguarding the welfare of our children and future generations or not at all, the choice is up to you."
He instructed the prosecution panel to secure a conviction in the case “to put behind bars all financiers of terrorism.”
“We will never stop running after terrorists who continue to sow fear among our communities, you have no place in our society,” he assured.
The case against CERNET has been assigned to Branch 74 of the Cebu regional trial court (RTC) on charges filed by the DOJ's Task Force on Counter-Terrorism and Terrorism Financing led by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Peter Ong.
CERNET’s council members were charged with violations of Section 8(ii), in relation to Section 9, of Republic Act (RA) No. 10168, the Terrorism Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
The DOJ's task force filed the case after conducting a preliminary investigation on the complaint filed by the Joint Task Group Cebu of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army (PA).
Those named in the complaint are CERNET council members Atty. Noemi B. Truya-Abarientos, Estrella Flores-Catarata, Fr. Herbert Fran Fadriquela Jr., Geraldine Labradores, Dr. Nichol Ragay Elman, Ester C. Delfin, Evelyn C. Abella, Miguel Cabilao, Gregorio G. Fernandez Jr. Msgr. Merlin T. Logronio, Nancy Ugsad Estolloso, Rebecca Quimada Sienes, Dulce Pia Rose, Maria Ira Doyasabas Pamat, Dr. Petty Orbeta De Castro, Crescenciana Z. Labitad, Miguel T. Udtohan, Joshua Zuriel Galenzoga Tiempo, Dr. Oliver A. Gimenez, Cristina D. Munoz, Teresa Claire F. Alicaba, Jhnggie Rumol, Ritchie Cabanero Nellas, Alma Ravacio Garcia, Atty. Alfonso M. Cinco IV, Katrina Genturales Coloso, and Jaime Paglinawan Sr.
They were accused of delivering P135,000 in cash in 2012 to the South Eastern Front (SEF) of the NPA in Dumaguete City.
In filing the case in court, the DOJ cited the testimonies of witnesses Bernabe L. Nieves and Hermosilla Apao Villamor.
It said that Nieves was an NPA fighter from 2001 to 2003 and became an employee of CERNET in 2006, while Villamor is a finance officer of the SEF-NPA.
It noted that Munoz gave P135,000 in cash to Nieves who was instructed to give the amount to Villamor in Dumaguete City.
In its resolution, the DOJ's panel said: “CERNET’s act of giving P135,000 cash to the NPA South Eastern Front, in September 2012, at Dumaguete City, intended for the latter’s food provision, armaments, ammunitions, firearms, medical supplies and other operational requirements, is undeniably an act of ‘making available’ ‘funds’ to a ‘designated’ terrorist organization, hence, punishable under Section 8(ii) of R.A. No. 10168.”
“Considering that the P135,000 given to the SEF of the NPA belongs to CERNET, Section 9 of the said law finds application in this case. Since CERNET, the offender, is a juridical person, the penalty for violating Section 8(ii) of the same law shall be imposed upon its responsible officers who allowed, by their gross negligence, the commission of the crime or who failed to prevent its commission. Hence, the recommended indictment of all respondents,” the resolution also stated.