Authorities urged to look into money trail of Maute Group

Davao Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles called on authorities to look into the “intricate financing network” of the Maute Group.

In a statement, Nograles said the recovery of P79 million worth of cash and checks from a house in Marawi City “is a grim indication that Maute and the other terrorist groups are not only well-armed and welltrained but are also well-financed.”

He said there is a need for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investi- gation (NBI) to look into the money trail of the Maute Group.

Nograles said that through Republic Act 10168, the government though the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has the power to freeze financial assets of those perceived to be involved in providing financial aid to suspected terrorists.

“The next step should be to trace the money trail and immediately freeze all financial assets that are tied up with the money seized in Marawi. We can debilitate these terrorists if we destroy their money pot,” he said.

Nograles, who chairs the House appropriations committee, is the primary author of RA 10168, otherwise known as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.

He said that with martial law in effect in Mindanao, authorities can “crush the financial infrastructure of Maute, the Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups.”

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, shortly after fighting broke out between government troops and the Maute Group.

The troops raided the hideout of Muslim militant Isnilon Hapilon, who has allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. This led to clashes, which are now entering the fourth week.