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3/19/2020

Treasury Sanctions ISIS-Philippines Facilitator for Terror Support | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury Sanctions ISIS-Philippines Facilitator for Terror
Support
April 30, 2018

Washington – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s O ice of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
took action today targeting Myrna Mabanza (Mabanza), a Philippines-based facilitator who
provided support to ISIS-Philippines (ISIS-P). Mabanza was named as a Specially Designated
Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 for assisting in, sponsoring, or
providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in
support of, ISIS-P. As a result of today’s designation, all property and interests in property of
Mabanza subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from
engaging in transactions with her.
“Mabanza has facilitated substantial financial activity on behalf of senior ISIS-Philippines
leadership and has been an intermediary between extremist groups in Southeast Asia that are
recruiting, training, and deploying radical terrorists,” said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for
Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “The United States continues to map and disrupt ISIS
financing networks in Southeast Asia and is resolved to cut their access to the international
financial system.”
On February 28, 2018, the U.S. Department of State designated ISIS-P as a Foreign Terrorist
Organization pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and
as an SDGT pursuant to E.O. 13224.
In January 2016, Mabanza was involved in the transfer of up to $107,000 with then-ISIS-P leader
Isnilon Hapilon (Hapilon); Hapilon also instructed Mabanza to deliver money to an ISIS-P
member. OFAC designated Hapilon on November 30, 2005 pursuant to E.O. 13224 for his role in
the Abu Sayyaf Group, which itself was listed in the Annex to E.O. 13224.
In February 2016, Mabanza served as an intermediary between Hapilon and ISIS elements in
Syria. In March 2016, Mabanza coordinated another transfer of funds with Hapilon. Also in
March 2016, a senior ISIS o icial in Syria planned to send financial support to ISIS-P through
Mabanza.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0373

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3/19/2020

Treasury Sanctions ISIS-Philippines Facilitator for Terror Support | U.S. Department of the Treasury

In April 2016, Mabanza helped facilitate the travel of a Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD)
representative who traveled from Indonesia to the Philippines. Mabanza accompanied the JAD
representative to Basilan, Philippines to meet Hapilon. The JAD representative traveled to the
Philippines to purchase arms for ISIS-aligned forces in Indonesia and to set up training courses
for pro-ISIS recruits from Indonesia with ISIS-P. A er Hapilon agreed to the plan, the recruits
from Indonesia who eventually attended the terrorist training camps were trained in firearm use
and basic bomb-making.
On January 10, 2017, the U.S. Department of State designated JAD as an SDGT pursuant to E.O.
13224. JAD is a terrorist group based in Indonesia that was formed in 2015 and is composed of
almost two dozen Indonesian extremist groups that had pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu
Bakr Al Baghdadi.
Identifying information on the individual designated today.
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0373

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