3 face terror financing raps

Charges have been filed against a reported aide of an Aklan congressman and two others for allegedly providing funds to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Charged were Benjie Tocol, the reported aide, Rosanna Inaudito and Jose Edwin Guillen.

The complaint, filed by the Philippines National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, accused them of violating the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 (TFPSA).

Tocol is alleged to have given groceries and cash to one Jose Edwin, alias Ruben Lorca, through a Brince Gegodas in April 2023. Tocol and Guillen were also accused of conspiring to extort money to fund the NPA in June 2023.

The case followed Gegodas’ conviction in September 2023 for rebellion and violating the TFPSA. He was arrested in June 2023 after attempting to extort P1.5 million from a contractor, Nestor Victor Gonzales Rodriguez. Gegodas turned in his phones to show his communication with Tocol.