CA denies AMLC’s plea to freeze bank account of peasant women’s group

The Court of Appeals. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/COURT OF APPEALS WEBSITE

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has denied the request of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for a freeze order on the funds of a peasant women’s organization, citing the government’s failure to prove that the group’s bank account is being used to finance terrorism activities.

The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women was earlier red-tagged by the government as having ties with the communist movement.

Two government witnesses claimed that funds from foreign donors were being funneled into the group’s bank account to supposedly finance activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing New People’s Army.

“There is nothing in the Sinumpaang Salaysay [Sworn Statement] of Ms. Gleceria Jandayan Baladiao and Ms. Jackielyn Ann Murillo Elaco that would show that the subject BPI accounts are related or connected to an unlawful activity,” reads the CA order which was made public on Thursday.

“The court finds no specific allegation or even a single transaction that the BPI account of respondent Amihan National is being used to finance terrorist acts under RA 10168,” the order also states.

The Quezon City-based Amihan National is a federation of peasant women’s organizations calling for genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization in the country.

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