Funds received by suspected Al-Qaeda financier used in Marawi siege, gov't says

The funds that were allegedly received and distributed by Myrna Mabanza, a suspected financier of Al-Qaeda and a supporter of the Islamic State, were used in the five-month Marawi siege in 2017, government officials said Friday.

"She's not directly—we cannot say that she's directly participating in any terrorist act, but she's participating in the financing, facilitating of financial support for the [Abu Sayaff Group] and other terrorist organizations," Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rodan Parrocha said in a media briefing.

"Our intel reports [show] that somehow 'yung finances na natanggap niya from foreign supporters were used in the Marawi siege and other ASG activities and anti-government activities… the time na active pa talaga ang ASG sa kanilang campaign against the government," he added.

(Our intelligence reports [show] that somehow the finances she received from foreign supporters were used in the Marawi siege and other ASG activities and anti-government activities at the time that the ASG was actively against the government.)

According to Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rassendell Rex Gingoyon, Mabanza received money from foreign nationals in Malaysia, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

"Other than receiving money from foreign sources, Myrna Mabanza is also instrumental in collating these financial money and then remitting them to local members of the ASG in Jolo in Sulu, Basilan," he said.

Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty, meanwhile, said the funds were used to buy firearms and hire trainers and foreign fighters.

"Doon sa usaping terrorist financing, hindi naman talaga ganu'n ka-material 'yung amount. The mere fact na may amount na nagamit to finance terrorism, labag na 'yun sa batas at puwede na 'yun magamit for prosecution," Ty said.

(Regarding terrorist financing, the amount is not material. The mere fact that there was an amount used to finance terrorism, it's already against the law and could be used for prosecution.)

'Probably more'

Mabanza was arrested on Thursday in Indanan, Sulu. Police said she was supposedly involved in the transfer of $107,000 to the then ISIS-Philippines leader Isnilon Hapilon in 2016.

National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Assistant Director General Ted Tibaldo, however, said there was "probably more."

"Kasi those were the times lang na kung saan na na-monitor, na-properly monitor na siya. The $107 [thousand] probably, 'yun ang pinaka-estimate but there might be more. There might be more na hindi lang namin nakikita," Tibaldo said.

(Because these are the times where it was monitored, properly monitored. The $107 [thousand] probably, but the estimate might be more. There might be more that we did not see.)

According to Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Officer-in-Charge Emmett Manantan, the funds were transferred through remittance agencies.

"'Yun pong amounts involved doon po sa money-service businesses po. These are the remittance agencies na na-identify po natin through intelligence and 'yung investigation conducted po," Manantan said.

In May 2017, the Maute group attacked Marawi, leading to a five-month armed conflict that left over 1,000 dead and the city in ruin.

Then President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi liberated in October 2017.

'Perfect cover'

Asked how Mabanza was able to evade arrest, Tibaldo said she used her teaching profession as a cover.

"Nabanggit na rin kanina 'yung being a teacher niya, so that is one of the perfect cover na ginagamit niya rin ano. And, of course, there are some other means. At saka syempre, mga kamag- anak. So nagtutulungan po 'yan," Tibaldo said.

[We mentioned earlier her profession as a teacher, so that is one of the perfect cover that she used. And of course, there are other means. Of course, her relatives. They would have helped her.]

Parrocha, meanwhile, said Mabanza stayed with her husband, whom the former described as an alleged high-ranking leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The Anti-Terrorism Council, for its part, has lauded her arrest, saying that it marks another positive note for the government's whole-of-nation campaign against terrorism.

In a separate statement, National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Eduardo Año commended the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), NICA, AMLC, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) over the arrest.

"The arrest of Mabanza is a significant triumph for national and international security efforts. The successful operation, executed by our dedicated law enforcement agencies, underscores the government's commitment to combating terrorism and maintain peace in our country," Año said.

Grey list

Meanwhile, Ty said Mabanza's arrest contributes to the country's goal to be removed from the grey list of countries under increased monitoring to counter money laundering and terrorist financing.

"Itong si Myrna Mabanza designated siya both ng United Nations Security Council at ng United States, no? So isa itong— significant figure siya doon sa move nating [mawala sa] grey list," he said.

(Myrna Mabanza is designated by both the UN Security Council and the United States. She is a significant figure in our move to be removed from the grey list.)

Mabanza is a specially designated global terrorist by the United States.

In early January, the President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. directed concerned government agencies to address and resolve the Philippines' "grey listing."

Transfer to Manila?

With Mabanza's arrest, Ginggoyon said she will be arraigned before the Zamboanga court.

Mabanza and two others are facing five counts of violation of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 before the Regional Trial Court of Zamboanga City.

Ginggoyon said they are also evaluating the possible transfer of the trial to Manila.

"Considering that Myrna Mabanza is a high-profile person, the facilities in Zamboanga may not be able to be enough to contain her considering that she has numerous relatives in the ZambaSulta (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi) area. Transferring her to Manila, to the facilities in Taguig, will ensure that she will be properly guarded under the security protocols," he said.

However, Ginggoyon said they need to take into consideration the transportation cost of the panel of prosecutors, witnesses, and Mabanza herself.

"What we can assure is that AMLC, the DOJ, and the NICA are fully prepared to handle the case whether it is in Zamboanga RTC or in Manila RTC," he said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News