📷LCDE’s executive director Jazmin Jerusalem
The prosecutor’s office in Tacloban City has dismissed the complaint filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) against the Leyte Center for Development Inc. (LCDE), a non-government organization (NGO) that continues to assist victims of Typhoon Yolanda, regarding allegations of terrorism financing.
In a four-page resolution from the Office of the City Prosecutor dated December 19, 2024, it was stated that the evidence presented was insufficient to support the charges of “terrorism financing” against LCDE’s executive director Jazmin Jerusalem and two other NGO officials, Fena Joyce Moscare and Mary Grace Laureno.
According to the affidavit of PSSg. Divine Grace B. Songalia from the CIDG, the LCDE and its officials were accused of providing funds and material support to members of organizations linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), which have been designated as terrorist entities.
Songalia’s sworn statement further claimed that LCDE was being used as a front organization that received funds from foreign donors, which were allegedly distributed to CPP-NPA members.
The CIDG also presented testimonies from supposed former rebels, including Alma Gabin, Margie dela Cruz, Serapeon Nebreja, and Ana Rose Codillo, who detailed their involvement in LCDE’s activities.
Gabin stated in her sworn testimony that she had direct communication with Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Jongco and Codillo, who claimed to be former employees of LCDE, described how they distributed funds and material support to the CPP-NPA.
They also accused Jerusalem of instructing them to manipulate documents to conceal the transfer of large sums of money to CPP-NPA members.
Dela Cruz and Rechiel Yrigon Layla recounted three incidents involving the alleged transfer of funds intended for the CPP-NPA, including an accusation against Jerusalem for allegedly directing dela Cruz to deliver supplies to an NPA camp in Las Navas, Northern Samar.| via PINOY WEEKLY
