Govt pushes for declaration of ASG as outlawed group --NBI

MANILA, Nov. 3 (PNA)--The Abu Sayyaf Group will lose financial support from its counterparts in foreign countries once it is declared an outlawed organization, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Regional Director lawyer Ricardo Diaz, chief of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), expects the government’s continued efforts to have ASG be proscribed would prosper.

“Once this (proscription) prospers, the financial support from international sources will be cut,” said Diaz.

But Diaz declined to name the possible ASG financial supporters.

Section 17 of the Human Security Act (HSA), otherwise known as Republic Act 9372, provides that "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 said that 80 percent of the terrorists’ acts involved explosion, mines and bombs. “Before it was 70 percent, now it increased to 80 percent so there is need to be more aggressive to counter terrorism,” said Diaz in an interview.

He said that the ASG had been resorting to kidnapping and abduction for the past years, especially in Mindanao.

“Intelligence report that they (ASG) are using these illegal activities to make money and these are subject of further verification. We cannot officially says that it is the case because we have to verify information,” he said.

As to the report that ASG had been receiving financial supports from its counterparts in other countries, Diaz refused to confirm this but said once ASG was proscribed, its financial support from its counterparts in other countries will be cut.

“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,” said Diaz.

Diaz said the NBI expressed optimism that proscription of ASG will push through to finally crush terrorism in the Philippines.