THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) commended Philippine state forces for the arrest of 3 persons in Negros Island wanted for raising funds to support the terrorist activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for Region VI, Prosecutor Flosemer Gonzales, said the arrests proved that “no one is above the law,” in relation to the arrest last January 2, 2025, of Federico ‘Pedring’ Salvilla, Perla Pavillar and Daryl Albañez, by joint operatives from the Negros Occidental Police Office and the regional ‘Special Task Group on Countering CTG (communist terrorist group) Resource Generation’ (STG-CCRG).
A warrant for their arrest was issued by the Iloilo Regional Trial Court for ‘terrorism financing’ under Section 8 (ii), of RA 10168, otherwise known as ‘The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.’
Albañez, 41, was collared in Bgy. 1, La Carlota City while Pavillar,57, and Salvilla, 63, were arrested in Bgy. Man-uling, Cauyan and Bgy. Pagayon, Pulupandan, respectively.
Significantly, while the authorities declined to release further details in respect of the suspects’ rights, ‘Tanggol Magsasaka,’ another suspected CPP front organization, identified Albañez as the executive director of ‘Kristianong Mangunguma Lubos Itib-ong ang Grupo’ (KMALIG) and Salvilla and Pavillar as “dedicated staff members” of the ‘Paghidet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG) Inc.’
Tanggol Magsasaka said its “stands in unwavering solidarity” with those arrested “as they face state-sponsored harassment and oppression.”
“This unjust action is yet another glaring example of the government’s systemic attack on progressive forces, especially those advocating for the rights of marginalized farmers and communities,” the group added.
However, Gonzales stressed the arrest was the result of the successful case build-up the STG-CCRG conducted against the operations of the PDG.
“This is a significant accomplishment that will lead to the eventual dismantling of the terrorism financing network established by the CPP-NDF-NPA (in the region).
“This network consists of various front organizations masquerading as cause oriented groups that generate funds thru international and local sources but with a common goal of providing material, financial, and logistical support to the CPP-NDF-NPA terrorist organization,” Gonzales said.
He also alerted the media and other genuine people’s organization to thwart and expose the ongoing “fund-raising” activities being organized by Tanggol Magsasaka and other CPP front organizations, purportedly in support of the suspects’ “legal expenses.”