ILOILO CITY – A man has been convicted for financing terrorist activities committed by the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), in Panay Island.
Brince Gegodas from Tapaz town, Capiz province was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years for violating the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
The Regional Trial Court-Branch 12 in Aklan province found Gegodas guilty in a decision released on September 2.
The court considered Gegodas’ act to have contributed to the CPP-NPA’s terrorist activities and posed a threat to national security.
The 35-year-old Gegodas was arrested in an entrapment operation in Makato town, Aklan.
The Regional Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC-6) uncovered that Gegodas was making financial contributions to the NPA Komiteng Rehiyon Panay.
The 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, the police in Aklan and Capiz, and the legal team of RTF-ELCAC-6 coordinated to arrest Gegodas.
The 3rd ID welcomed Gegodas’ conviction.
“This sends a strong message to any individual or group that aids, supports, or finances the terrorist activities,” said Major Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander. “They cannot escape the long arm of the law, and the justice system will not tolerate any form of this criminal act,” added Sison.