A WITNESS from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) failed to provide any evidence during the second hearing for 27 individuals associated with a group labeled for allegedly extending financial help to the front of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Oriental.
SunStar Cebu attended the second trial hearing for 27 individuals associated with the Community Empowerment Resource Network (Cernet) at the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 74 on Tuesday,
May 20, 2025.
The AMLC representative presented its second witness, who offered oral testimony without submitting any documentary evidence to support the allegations against the accused. The representative was the only witness presented at the hearing.
During the cross-examination, the AMLC witness relied on verbal accounts during their testimony, failing to present financial records, investigation reports, or other material documents to verify claims linking the “Cernet 27” to alleged financing.
The hearing, attended by some of the 27 accused, began at around 8:30 a.m. and adjourned at approximately 11:25 a.m. with Presiding Judge Marlon Jay Moneva.
AMLC was established by Republic Act 9160 to protect bank accounts and prevent money laundering in the Philippines. As the nation’s Financial Intelligence Unit, it implements anti-money laundering and terrorism financing laws.
In its first hearing on Feb. 4, a representative from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) presented documents confirming Cernet’s legal standing as a non-profit, including articles of incorporation and financial statements. The defense has used these documents to affirm Cernet’s legitimacy.
The 27 individuals, known as the “Cernet 27,” face charges under the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 for allegedly providing P35,000 to the NPA in 2012.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the case in September 2023, and the accused were indicted in May 2024. Bail was set at P200,000 for each of the accused.
Cancellation
The next hearing, initially scheduled for May 22, has been cancelled and moved to July 31.
It is anticipated that Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong who conducted the preliminary investigation and the one who indicted Cernet 27 or Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, either one will take the stand to testify at that time.
The Visayas Command (Viscom), through Escanillas, commander of the 302nd Bridge of the Philippine Army, filed a complaint against Cernet, which provides small funds to people’s organizations and supports their projects, for violating RA 10168 before the DOJ in September 2023. Cernet later received a subpoena from the DOJ.
However, during the hearing Moniva announced an impending 10-month study leave, adding a potential layer of complexity to the timeline of the case.
Moneva said that the Supreme Court will provide an acting presiding judge.
Meanwhile, the hearing was attended by foreign diplomatic observers, including Erica Duffy, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Ireland; Atty. Camille Parpan, Senior Human Rights Advisor of the British Embassy in the Philippines; and a representative from Second Political Secretary of the British Embassy.
Their presence underscores international interest in the proceedings.
Allegations
A German human rights organization has condemned what it calls a surge in “fabricated charges” of terrorism financing against non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and human rights defenders in the Philippines.
The Aktionsbündnis Menschenrechte - Philippinen (AMP) stated these allegations are baseless and designed to intimidate and hinder the work of these groups.
AMP observed a substantial number of such charges in 2024. Among those targeted were the Cernet and the Leyte Center for Development (LCDE).
A regional court dismissed charges against individuals linked to Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development (PDG) in March 2025, a decision upheld in April 2025. The Philippine Defend NGOs Alliance reported that 24 NGOs faced alleged terrorism financing charges between 2019 and 2024.
AMP also voiced concern that these charges increased as the Philippines underwent a review by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), from whose “grey list” the country was removed in February 2025.
AMP is urging the Philippine government to withdraw all fabricated charges and investigate those responsible for “red-tagging”—a practice of branding individuals or groups as terrorists.
The group also called on the European Union and international actors to pressure the Philippine government to prevent the misuse of anti-terrorism laws. / CDF