Philippines: Money seized from two CTG members were forfeited pursuant to a Civil Forfeiture petition on December 7, 2022, after CIDG operatives requested the Anti Money Laundering Council to conduct the investigation and file the proper petition before the Manila Court.
As a backgrounder, in the early morning of February 7, 2020, in Brgy. Calanipawan, Tacloban City, CIDG operatives implemented a search warrant that resulted in the arrest of the two CTG members after confiscating from their possession two hand grenades, two calibers .45 pistols, and live ammunition including cash amounting to PHP 557, 360.00.
In the said operation, police operatives were able to recover several explosives, firearms, ammunition, and a black box containing cash in Php1000.00 and Php500.00 denominations.
CIDG Director PBGEN RONALD O LEE said, Mariel Domequil and Frenchie Mae Cumpio are Finance Officers of Human Rights Group and Gabriela and they likewise facilitated the distribution of funds and other logistical supplies such as ammunition to the members of the CPP-NPA.
He added that the CPP-NPA is designated as a terrorist group not only by the United States but also by the Republic of the Philippines. There is no doubt that the captured CTG Members are custodians or repositories of funds for the CPP-NPA, and there is a high probability that the funds seized from them are owned by the CPP-NPA and intended to be used by the said terrorist organization.
In the decision by the Manila Court, it said, “ Considering that the subject funds of respondents Cumpio and Domequil are related to an unlawful activity and the said respondents failed to adduce evidence to prove otherwise, the same shall be forfeited in favor of the Government”
The petition stemmed from the request for financial investigation made by the CIDG to the AMLC.
According to PBGen Ronald O Lee, he considers this decision as a landmark case of civil forfeiture for the CIDG and its partner agency, AMLC, against the CPP-NDF-NPA terrorist organization. This success is a huge step in the PNP’s relentless campaign to neutralize any forms of terrorism financing.
“Ito ay isang napakalaking hakbang sa pagsugpo at pagpigil natin sa mga makakaliwang grupo na makapaghasik ng kaguluhan at takot sa ating bayan. This is the start, we assure the public that the CIDG and its partner agencies will not stop our efforts to coil and foil terrorism” CIDG’s top cop said.
