Government warns public vs giving funds to CPP-NPA

MANILA, Philippines — The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) yesterday warned the public, including politicians, against providing money and material support to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)/New People’s Army (NPA)/National Democratic Front (NDF).

The ATC has declared the three groups as terrorist organizations under ATC Resolution Nos. 12 and 21 pursuant to provisions of Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (ATA).

“Thus, the public must immediately report any coercive or illegal fund collection by the communist terrorists as these terrorism financing activities sustain the violent agenda of the CPP-NPA-NDF that disregards not only our country’s laws but also human life, public safety, and right over property,” the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said.

The AMLC warned that under Section 12 of the ATA, any person who provides material support to a terrorist person or organization is liable as principal and shall suffer the penalty of life imprisonment.

Likewise, it added that under Section 8 of RA 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA), any person who provides property, funds or financial services to designated persons or organizations shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua and a fine of not less than P500,000 nor more than P1 million.

Furthermore, Section 11 of the TFPSA authorizes the AMLC to freeze property or funds related to terrorism financing.

Over the years, the Communist Terrorist Group has engaged in terrorism financing. According to a former ranking NPA member, fees collected from political candidates are pro-rated based on the sought position.

Recovered CPP-NPA documents, statements of former NPA members, and other reliable sources reveal that communist terrorists raise and collect funds through extortion/taxation, including election fees, such as permits to campaign or win from politicians.

Other regular and major sources of funds are mining companies, telephone companies, construction firms and other businesses, including project funds from abroad. These funds amount to billions of pesos, where 60 percent goes to the CPP Central Committee, while 40 percent remains with the regional units for their terrorist operations.

Apart from money, communist terrorists also receive firearms, combat boots, uniforms and technical equipment or gadgets.

Since 2002, the US, European Union, Australia, United Kingdom and New Zealand designated the CPP-NPA as foreign terrorist groups.

Paris-based Financial Action Task Force, a global dirty money watchdog ,has reincluded the Philippines in the gray list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring last June 25 after it failed to address the technical deficiencies raised by the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering under its October 2019 Mutual Evaluation Report.

AMLC chairman and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Benjamin Diokno is confident that the country will be removed from the gray list on or before January 2023 as it continues to adopt a whole-of-government approach with the implementation of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Strategy for 2018 to 2022.