đˇ Abogado
THE matriarch of a terrorist group named after her will have to spend the rest of her life behind bars after the Taguig Regional Trial Court found her guilty for bankrolling terrorist operations.
In a 39-page ruling Taguig RTC Branch 266 convicted is Ominta Romato Maute of Marawi City âguilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 4 of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
The sentence â imprisonment from 17 years, four months, and one day to reclusion perpetua, on top of the clause which ordered her to pay a fine amounting to P500,000.
âAfter judicious review of the records and evidence of this case, the Court finds that the prosecution was able to prove the elements of the crime of financing,â reads part of the decision.
The court said that the prosecution was able to prove that Maute provided funds and properties for the operation of the Maute terrorist group.
Interestingly, the convicted financier is the mother of Maute terrorist group members named Omar, Abdullah and five other sons.
In its ruling, the Court noted that a vehicle registered under Mauteâs name was found with an improvised explosive device (IED) after it was abandoned at a checkpoint.
âClearly, were it not for the checkpoint conducted at Barangay Mapandi near the center of Marawi City, and for the timely interception of the Toyota Innova containing an IED, an act of terrorism would have surely been consummated,â the court said.
âEvidently, the Toyota Innova was made available to be used to carry out or facilitate the commission of a terrorist attack committed by a terrorist organization, in this case, the Maute Terrorist Group and/or ISIS Ranao,â it added.
The court said the vehicle will be forfeited in favor of the government.
The Maute terrorist group gained prominence when it swooped down and took control of Marawi City on May 23, 2017. The fierce firefight lasted for five long months, resulting in the death of thousands and leaving the city in ruins.
In a statement shortly after the court handed out its sentence, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla described the conviction as proof that the terrorism has no place in the country.
âThis conviction exhibits our nationâs unity and resilience to fight the evils lurking in our society, I am very proud of our DOJ family, particularly the Counter-Terrorism and Terrorism Financing Task Force I for overcoming the odds and risking their lives to safeguard peace and order,â according to Remullaâs statement. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
