Anakpawis Party-list has denounced what it called the unjust issuance of the Freeze order dated May 5, 2021 by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on the bank accounts of Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women’s bank accounts.
AMLC issued its Resolution TF-38, Series of 2021, allegedly pursuant to Section 11 of Republic Act No. 10168 or the Terrorism Financing and Suppression Act of 2012.
Anakpawis slammed the order as unfounded and a threat to the rights of bank depositors, especially to those aiding marginalized sectors such as rural-based sectors and peasant women.
Ariel Casilao, Anakpawis Party-list National President and former representative, said in a press statement:”The freeze order is not just unfounded, but outright tyrannical and violation of democratic rights of bank depositors, and in the case of Amihan who consistently aided impoverished and neglected peasant communities, sabotages the livelihood and welfare projects of their beneficiaries.
“This sends a chilling effect against critics and opposition, on the futile objective of repressing the organizing of poor sectors into pushing for fundamental reforms.
“We join the demand to scrap the AMLC freeze order and urge the civil society communities, and democracy advocates to support Amihan’s defense against the authoritarian measure.”
The AMLC is accusing Amihan, together with eight other organizations for financing the activities of the New People’s Army in the Northern Mindanao region, all based on allegations of surrenderee witnesses.
Amihan denied knowledge of the identities of the witnesses, more so any transactions.
Last year, the group led the “Support the Food Security Frontliners” relief campaign that raised support from many sector for peasant communities in Rizal, Bataan, Isabela, Cagayan and Bicol amid the impact of lockdown policies, typhoons Rolly and Ulysses and extreme drought in 2019.
It also sent school supplies during its “Suplay Pang-suhay sa Kabataan sa Nayon” campaign for the peasant children in Rizal, Cavite and Eastern Visayas.
“This case is akin to the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines last year. Thus, Duterte after attacking the church-based group aiding the poor, is now on the onslaught against the peasant women sector. He is dead wrong if he considers this as a tactical victory against the legal-democratic movement, when it only exposes his tyrannical tendencies, all in par with being a criminal against humanity, his very reputation in the international community,” Casilao said.
Amihan is also acting a secretariat for the Bantay Bigas network, that criticized the Duterte government for many years, for its enactment of the RA 11203 Rice Liberalization Law, carried out its #StopMilitarization and #DefendPeasantWomen anti-fascist campaigns.
