By Jennifer P. Rendon
A suspected supporter of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) has become the first person in Western Visayas to be convicted for terrorism financing.
The accused, 35-year-old Brince Gegodas, known by several aliases including Ian Arevalo, Prince Egodas, Mak-Mak, and JP, was found guilty of violating Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10168, also known as the “Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.”
Section 6 of RA 10168 defines an accomplice as someone who assists in the crime of financing terrorism but is not the primary perpetrator or involved in the initial planning. This individual receives a lesser penalty than the main conspirator or planner of the crime.
The 6th Regional Trial Court, Branch 12, found Gegodas guilty of providing financial support to the CPP-NPA. The decision was handed down on Sept. 2, 2024.
Gegodas, a resident of Barangay Lahug, Tapaz, reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges against him. He was sentenced to imprisonment of 12 years as a minimum to 14 years, four months, and one day as a maximum.
In a press statement, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division said the conviction resulted from a series of investigations and case build-up conducted by the Philippine National Police, the 3rd ID, and the Joint Focused Legal Action Team (JFLAT) of the Regional Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) 6’s Legal Cooperation and Peace, Law Enforcement, and Development Support (PLEDS) Clusters.
“These legal efforts uncovered evidence of Gegodas’ financial contributions to the Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay following his apprehension during an entrapment operation conducted by combined elements of the Aklan PNP and the 3rd ID on June 27, 2023, in Barangay Calangcang, Makato, Aklan,” the statement added.
Recovered from Gegodas’ possession were demand money, a bundle of coupon bonds, a fragmentation grenade, three mobile phones, and a wallet containing P7,360 in cash, a SIM card, and a remittance receipt.
Meanwhile, the leadership of both the 3rd ID and the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 hailed Gegodas’ conviction as a significant victory in the government’s ongoing campaign against insurgency.
Major General Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, commended the government forces and the J-FLAT for their collaborative legal efforts that resulted in the conviction of the CTG financier.
“Gegodas’ conviction represents a significant breakthrough in the government’s efforts to combat terrorism financing and end the decades-long threat posed by the CTG in Panay Island,” Sison said.
He added that it sends a strong message to any individual or group that aids, supports, or finances the terrorist activities of the CTG that they cannot escape the law, and the justice system will not tolerate any form of this criminal act.
On the other hand, the PRO-6 leadership reiterated its commitment to combating all forms of terrorism and terrorism financing activities.
“We commend the Special Task Group on Countering Communist Terrorist Group-Resource Generation for this landmark accomplishment, being the first conviction in a terrorism financing case in the region,” said Brigadier General Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief.
He added that it would fuel PRO-6’s efforts to further their fight against all enemies threatening peace and order.
