THE Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has approved the freeze order on the bank deposits and other assets of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra revealed this yesterday as he was quoting the information relayed to him by AMLC Executive Director Mel Racela.
“As per ED (Executive Director) Racela, the AMLC approved its freeze order against the CPP-NPA and other designated terrorist groups last December 23,” Guevarra said.
The freeze order was issued shortly after the Anti-Terrorism Council recently designated the CPP/NPA as a terror group.
“The ATC (Anti-Terrorism Council) finds probable cause that the CPP/NPA committed or conspired to commit the acts defined and penalized under Section 4 of the Anti-Terror Act and hereby designates the CPP/NPA as terrorist organizations, associations or groups of persons,” the ATC said in a resolution dated December 9, but only published on the ATC’s website on December 21.
Sections 35 and 36 of Republic Act No. 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, has authorized the AMLC to scrutinize the finances of organizations or groups of individuals that the ATC had labeled as terrorists.
Under the law, the AMLC could issue a 20-day freeze order on the assets of these groups and extend this to another six months upon the approval of the Court of Appeals.
The AMLC may also exercise its authority to examine the accounts related to the CPP-NPA under Republic Act No. 10168, also known as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
