(Eagle News) — Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said on Tuesday that the money recovered by authorities in Marawi, and believed to form part of the funds of terrorists, had been compiled within a two-year period.
“I don’t know exactly the direct implications of (the recovery), although I did inquire and apparently, the money has been compiled between 2014 and 2016,” he said.
It was unclear if Abella was referring to only the cold cash recovered by the Philippine Marines, or also to the money specified in the check they recovered.
Members of the Philippine Marines recovered the more than P78 million worth of combined cash and checks in a house in Marawi City where Maute snipers were believed to be positioned.
The cash recovered from inside a vault amounted to P52 million, while the checks found there amounted to P23.7 million.
Abella said he believed the information given to him was based on “records.”
“(The money) has been slowly accumulated over the past two years,” he said.
Asked who sent the money and to whom, Abella said he did not have those details yet.
“I’m sure that will be part of the progression of the investigation,” Abella said when asked why the Anti-Money Laundering Council had not been able to track such a huge amount.
The cash and checks have already been turned over to Joint Task Force Marawi.
