Police arrested a former employee of the Farmer’s Development Center (FDC) on terrorism financing charges, authorities said Friday.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested Camilo Tabada on Dec. 20 in Poblacion, Talibon, under a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 74 in Cebu City for alleged violations of the Terrorism Financing Prevention Act of 2012.
The court issued the arrest warrant Dec. 19 and set bail at P200,000 pesos for Tabada’s provisional liberty.
The Terrorism Financing Prevention Act of 2012, also known as Republic Act 10168, criminalizes the provision, collection or use of funds with the intention or knowledge that they will be used to carry out terrorist acts or support terrorist organizations.
The law implements international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force to combat terrorism financing and aligns the Philippines with global counter-terrorism efforts.
Violations carry penalties ranging from four to 12 years imprisonment and fines up to 1 million pesos, depending on the offense.
CIDG filed the case against Tabada with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Tagbilaran City on Nov. 27, 2024.
After prosecutors filed formal charges, the case was transferred to RTC Branch 74, which has jurisdiction over terrorism-related offenses in the region.
Following the warrant’s issuance, CIDG formed a tracker team that located and arrested the suspect.
Tabada remains in custody and will be brought before the court for arraignment.
Authorities have not disclosed details about the alleged financing activities or their intended recipients.