THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) warned that those proven to be supporting the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) will be charged under Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
“We will build up cases against these people if they will continue and we will file appropriate charges in court,” Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division (ID) commander Major General Noel Clement said in an interview.
He assured that they will adhere to the provision of rule of law in the implementation of the provision even if it’s Martial Law.
“We will still have due process hindi naman nagsumbong na [nagbigay ng] pera or something dadamputin agad. We already [give] warning actually under the Human Security Act which is the basic law that we will be using in as far as terrorism is concern,” he said.
Under the Proclamation No. 374 issued last December 5, declaring the CPP-NPA as designated/identified terrorist organization under Republic Act No. 10168 which law states that “it is the policy of the state to protect life, liberty and property from acts of terrorism to condemn terrorism and those who support and finance it and to recognize it as inimical and dangerous to the national security of the country and the welfare of the people and to make financing of terrorism a crime against the Filipino people, against humanity and against the law of nations.”
The proclamation also added that it will “criminalize the financing of terrorism with property or funds of designated persons/organizations and prevents and suppresses the commission of said offenses through freezing and forfeiture of the property or funds of said designated person/property among others.”
Business sector, particularly the mining industry players, were warned by the President not to give in to extortion demand of the reds otherwise they will face closure. The money that the NPA get from these business establishments will only serve as a resource generation for them to continue with their operation and worsen the problem.
Based on earlier report, about P1.5 billion extortion money were collected from construction, mining, transportation, agriculture companies, other business entities and individuals by the rebels every year. They were forced to give otherwise the rebels will resort to burning of facilities of the company, abduction or killing.
“If you finance or support an organization that is spouse terrorism then you are equally liable and be part of the organization. They have to be very careful kung patuloy parin silang mag susuporta dito sa mga NPA that has already been grounded as a terrorist group then they can be liable for that,” Clement said.