RAPS SET AS DOJ FINDS ‘COMPELLING EVIDENCE’ VS ALLEGED REBELS

Two suspected communist rebels are facing charges for allegedly collecting “revolutionary taxes” and financing terrorism, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the DOJ said that state prosecutors found compelling evidence against the pair identified as Leonor Taguinod Dumlao and Valentin Cruz Tolentino, both alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army (NPA).

Dumlao and Tolentino will be charged for violating Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10168, or The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, before the Batangas Regional Trial Court.

The DOJ said the police launched background checks on the two after receiving reports that they were being accused of possessing firearms and ammunition with no definite source of income or apparent purpose.

Authorities then tapped the National Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ask a court to issue search warrants.

“Consequently, authorities discovered firearms, ammunition, improvised explosive devices, IED components and a significant sum of money in various denominations,” the DOJ said.

It added that further investigation showed Dumlao and Tolentino to be members of the National Finance Commission of the CPP-NPA, “which had direct involvement in demanding money from construction firms, telecommunication companies, bus companies, mining companies and businessmen in the guise of ‘revolutionary taxes.’”

“It was also discovered that the respondents were responsible for the creation of the National Economic Striking Force of the CPP-NPA, which serves as security of the ‘Rebolusyonaryong Buwis sa Kaaway na Uri,’” the DOJ said.

If proven guilty, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the government would “not let them go unpunished.”

“We will never let even an inch of terrorism’s tyranny sow fear among our citizens, much more let the cowards behind this menace run free. This is a time when we Filipinos should fortify our resolve and show our resilience in fighting this evil,” he said.