Gov’t warns public against giving money, material support to CPP-NPA-NDF

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has warned the public against providing money and material support to the Communist Party of the Philippine-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), saying they could be penalized with life imprisonment for doing so.

To recall, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has designated the CPP-NPA and NDF as terrorist organizations under ATC Resolution No. 12, dated December 9, 2020, and No. 21, dated June 23, 2021, respectively, pursuant to Paragraph 3, Section 25 in relation to Section 45 of Republic Act No. (RA) 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (ATA).

Prior to the ATC designation, the AMLC said the CPP-NPA has been designated by other countries and jurisdictions:

•     The United States of America designated the CPP-NPA as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) on August 9, 2002 and continues to include them in their FTO list
•     The European Union designated the CPP-NPA on October 28, 2002 and reaffirmed said designation on 13 January 2020
•     Australia designated the CPP-NPA on October 28, 2002 and relisted them on November 13, 2013
•     The United Kingdom designated the CPP-NPA on August 14, 2002 and reaffirmed said designation on July 7, 2020
•     New Zealand designated the CPP-NPA on October 11, 2020 and renewed said designation on September 26, 2019

“Section 12 of the ATA states that any person who provides material support to a terrorist individual or organization, knowing that such individual or organization is committing or planning to commit terrorist acts, is liable as principal and in relation to Sections 4 and 6 of the ATA, shall suffer the penalty of life imprisonment,” the AMLC said.

“On the other hand, Section 8 of RA 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA) provides that any person who makes available any property or funds or financial services or other related services to designated persons or organizations shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua and a fine of not less than P500,000.00 nor more than P1,000,000.00,” it added.

The anti-dirty money body said Section 11 of the TFPSA authorizes the AMLC, upon its own initiative or at the request of the ATC, to freeze property or funds that are related to terrorism financing.

“In effect, the ATC designation makes any person who provides monetary and material support to the CPP-NPA-NDF liable for violations of relevant provisions of the ATA or TFPSA,” it said.

“Over the years, the Communist Terrorist Group has engaged in terrorism financing,” it added.

The AMLC said that 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/win” from politicians.

“According to a former ranking NPA member, fees collected from political candidates are pro-rated based on the sought position. Other regular and major sources of funds are mining companies, telephone companies, construction firms, and other businesses, including project funds from abroad,” it said.

“These funds amount to billions of pesos, where 60% goes to the CPP Central Committee and 40% remains with the regional units for their terrorist operations,” it added.

Apart from money, communist terrorists also receive firearms, combat boots, uniforms, and technical equipment/gadgets, according to the AMLC.

“Putting an end to the local communist movement entails cutting off their sources of funding and other means of support,” it said.

“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,” it added.—AOL, GMA News