NBI asks government to cut Sayyaf foreign funding source

MANILA, Philippines - A National Bureau of Investigation official called on the government yesterday to declare the Abu Sayyaf a terrorist organization to cut its sources of funds from abroad.

NBI Regional Director Ricardo Diaz, Counter Terrorism Unit chief, said the Abu Sayyaf would lose its financial backers once the government has condemned it before the international community.

“If this move prospers, the financial support from international sources will be cut,” he said.

“The government is readying its efforts to push for ASG’s proscription. Once the RTC approves it, the government can bring the matter to the United Nation Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC)-Terrorism Prevention Crime.”

Diaz said the NBI hopes the proscription of Abu Sayyaf will push through to finally crush the terrorist band.

Diaz said Abu Sayyaf has been engaged in kidnappings for the past years.

“There is an intelligence report that they are using these illegal activities to make money and these are subject to further verification,” he said.

“Any organization, association, or group of persons organized for the purpose of engaging in terrorism, or which, although not organized for that purpose, actually uses the acts to terrorize mentioned in this act or to sow and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand shall, upon application of the Department of Justice before a competent regional trial court, with due notice and opportunity to be heard given to the organization, association, or group of persons concerned, be declared as a terrorist and outlawed organization, association or group of persons by the said regional trial court,” Diaz quoted Republic Act 9372, the Human Security Act.

Diaz is now in the Unites States as part of the four-man Philippine delegation to the Tri-Border Police and Prosecutor International Visitor’s Program starting today until Nov. 13. – Sandy Araneta