DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, October 5 (PIA) -- The 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army has filed charges in court to some non-government organizations (NGOs) in Negros Oriental for allegedly providing funding support to New People's Army- Communist Terrorist Group (NPA-CTG).

This was reported by Brigadier General Joey Escanillas, commander of the 302nd Brigade, during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting on October 4, 2023 here.

Escanillas said that based on the evidence they recovered, the said NGOs allegedly violated Republic Act 10168, also known as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

“So the NGOs operating in Negros Oriental include NEGORNET (Negros Oriental Network), partner of LGU province; SUCED (Siliman University Center for Extension and Development), TUBURAN for Rural Women Empowerment and Dev't Inc.; PAGBAG-O (Pinaghugpong sa Gagmyang Grupo sa Oriental); CV - FARDEC (Central Visayas Farmers Dev't Center); CERNET (Community Empowerment Network); and others with a total of 10 NGOs,” Escanillas disclosed.

Provincial Board Member Jessica “Ikay” Villanueva, committee chair of peace and order, asked Escanillas to write the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on the situation for them to tackle before the next session starts on October 9.

Villanueva said that “since there is an impending case filed before the DOJ, we would like to have a letter especially that we included next week’s agenda on the subsidy of P500,000 to one of those NGOs mentioned.”

The letter from Escanillas would be the bases of SP for denying a resolution which is part of the requirements to get funding from the Capitol.

The SP may suspend the NGO’s request until the decision in court will be final.

However, Escanilla said the NGOs here are not really part of CTGs but part of the board of trustees and council members of the core organization, Cernet, a consortium composed of different NGOs.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Cernet denied the said allegations and described the charges as a form of persecution to vilify the cause and mission of their organization.

“We strongly debunk the allegations mentioned in the complaint, especially when it is grounded on…lies and baseless accusations,” it said. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)