SIXTEEN persons, including a nun from the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines have been charged with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for providing financial support to the CPP-NPA.
In a statement released by DOJ, it was learned that 55 counts for violation of Section 8 (ii) of Republic Act 10168, or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, as amended, were filed on Monday before the Regional Trial Court of Iligan City against the respondents who are mostly officers and staff of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Region (RMP-NMR).
Incoming assistant secretary and DOJ spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano says the panel of prosecutors filed the case based on the testimonies of two former members of the CPP-NPA.
Atty. Clavano says the 16 respondents failed to submit their counter-affidavits during preliminary investigation. “Thus, no defense on the part of the respondents was received by the prosecuting panel,” he says.
The DOJ did not provide the media a copy of the resolution or the information filed in court, citing privacy reasons.
The DOJ has yet to clarify if the 16 persons were given subpoenas but did not participate during the preliminary investigation or if subpoenas were issued, but the respondents cannot be located.
