Western Visayas: Western Visayas has played a significant role in the Philippines’ removal from the gray list of the Financial Action Task Force. Prosecutor II Flosemer Chris Gonzalez, spokesperson for the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Western Visayas and chair of the Joint Focus Legal Action Team, highlighted the region’s contribution through legal actions against terrorism financing.
According to Philippines News Agency, the task force filed 17 terrorism financing cases, leading to one conviction and six cases pending preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice. Gonzalez emphasized that these efforts have been pivotal in the Philippines’ delisting, which took effect on February 21, 2025, showcasing the country’s commitment to combating terrorism financing.
The special task force targeted communist terrorist group activities, filing 10 cases against five individuals in Negros Occidental. Of these, three individuals are on bail, one is abroad, and another is evading capture. In Aklan, six cases were filed against three individuals. A significant milestone was achieved when the Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Kalibo, Aklan, convicted a member of the Komiteng Rehiyon Panay taxation unit on September 2, 2024. The accused pleaded guilty to terrorism financing following an entrapment operation in June 2023.
The conviction was facilitated by effective intelligence operations, monitoring of key figures, and thorough case preparation. Gonzalez noted that the Philippines’ removal from the gray list will benefit overseas Filipino workers by reducing remittance fees.
Col. Gilbert Gorero, chief of the Operations Division of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas, encouraged public cooperation in providing affidavits and testimonies to strengthen ongoing and future cases. He stressed the importance of evidence in building cases, acknowledging the challenges in obtaining testimonies and evidence in some areas. However, successful filings in Negros Occidental and Aklan were made possible by securing necessary evidence.
