The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday announced that the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has sentenced Ominta Romato Maute, the matriarch of the Maute family in Marawi City, to up to 40 years of imprisonment for terrorism financing.
In a 39-page decision, Taguig RTC Branch 266 found Maute “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of violating Section 4 of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
The trial court sentenced her to suffer the penalty of imprisonment from 17 years, four months, and one day to reclusion perpetua or a jail term of up to 40 years.
The court also ordered Maute to pay a fine of P500,000. She was arrested with some suspected Maute Group members in June, 2017 in Lanao del Sur.
“After 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,” the court ruled.
In a statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla viewed the conviction to be a “big win” for the government, saying the State would never let terrorism prevail.
“This conviction exhibits our nation’s unity and resilience to fight the evils lurking in our society,” Remulla said.
“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,” he added in a statement.
According to the court, for Maute to be convicted, the prosecution had to prove that she provided a property that was made available to carry out any terrorist act by a terrorist group or an individual terrorist.
In its ruling, the RTC noted that a vehicle registered under Maute’s name was found with an improvised explosive device (IED) after it was abandoned at a checkpoint.
“Clearly, 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,” the court said.
The court said the vehicle will be forfeited in favor of the government.
