A CASHIER of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Region (RMP-NMR) was convicted by the Iligan City Regional Trial Court as an accessory in 55 counts of violations of Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Angeline Z. Magdua is “one of two cashiers of RMP-NMR, a non-government organization which obtained donations from unsuspecting foreign organizations to finance the operations of the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army), a terrorist organization as designated by the United States Department of State, the European Union, New Zealand, and the Philippine government.”
According to the DOJ, the RTC’s decision is the first-ever conviction 11 years after RA 10168 was enacted into law.
“Despite the first conviction coming 11 years after the enactment of the law, this landmark decision will serve as the foundation and will pave the way for future prosecutions under the law,” the DOJ said.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla called the decision one of the biggest victories of the department.
“Terrorism only leads to more violence and suffering, and we must break this cycle and work towards peace,” Remulla said.
Remulla assured that the government will continue to fight until the country is rid of terrorism.
“Terrorism has no place in any society, and we must stand together to defeat it,” he said.
