Zamboanga court convicts Abu Sayyaf financial facilitator

A Zamboanga court has found a woman guilty of acting as a financial facilitator for the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). 

In an order shared by the Justice Department, the Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court Branch 33 found Norkisa Omar Asnalul guilty of three counts of violation of Section 7 of Republic Act 10168 or The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. 

The court sentenced Asnalul to four months to up to one year and seven months of imprisonment on the three counts. She was also ordered to pay a fine of P100,000.

“The above-stated sentences shall be served successively, and the period of detention of the accused shall be given full credit,” the court said.

According to the court, Asnalul was initially charged with violation of Section 8 and pleaded not guilty. She later entered into a plea bargain, allowing her to plead guilty to acting as an accessory to terror financing. 

“The Court finds no legal impediment to the plea-bargaining agreement entered into by the prosecution and the defense, particularly considering that the lower offense to which the accused wishes to now plead guilty is penalized under the same law as that for which she was originally charged,” it said. 

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the conviction “strengthens the government’s resolve not to give in to their unlawful demands.”

The Department of Justice said Asnalul was arrested in December 2023. — VBL, GMA Integrated News