‘Top NPA leader’ nabbed in Malaysia

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — An alleged leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) was arrested in Langkawi, Malaysia while he was en route to neighboring Thailand.

According to Capt. Mark Anthony Tito, spokesman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, Eric Jun Casilao, 43, the alleged secretary general of the NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC), was arrested last week by Malaysian authorities at the border of Malaysia and Thailand.

Tito said Casilao – who was reportedly on his way to Thailand to meet with other comrades – arrived in Manila yesterday where he would be interrogated further by the military.

Casilao could have possibly left the Philippines through the backdoor, passing by East Malaysia in Sabah before proceeding to Langkawi.

He was reportedly active in NPA operations in Davao de Oro in past years. Casilao is the brother of former Anakpawis representative Ariel Casilao.

In a statement, ex-congressman Casilao said his brother’s lawyers were “denied information regarding the details of his deportation to the Philippines.”

“I now fear for his life and safety, while he is in the custody of Philippine officials as they have refused to give his legal representatives relevant information regarding his current status,” the statement read.

“I believe that Eric has the right to have access to his lawyers at every stage of his being in the custody of authorities, and especially in the duration of his deportation and travel from Malaysia to the Philippines. I am very worried for his safety,” the former party-list representative added.

The alleged NPA leader is reported to have been active in the rebel movement for more than 20 years.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Intelligence Maj. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., at a press conference yesterday, said Casilao was “assuming a different identity.”

Casilao arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 yesterday at past 5 a.m., escorted by officers of the PNP, military and Bureau of Immigration.

Acorda said Casilao and his wife, May Vargas Casilao, went into hiding somewhere in Malaysia. His arrest was in cooperation with the Malaysian government after a long surveillance.

May Vargas remains at large.

Casilao has been flown back to Davao – where he will be facing court – after being presented to the media.

He is facing multiple cases of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, while Casilao’s wife is accused of being a plenary member of the SMRC who also has a standing warrant of arrest for kidnapping, serious illegal detention and attempted murder.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) yesterday lauded Casilao’s arrest.

Describing the fugitive as “one of the most notorious leaders of the communist terrorist group, to date,” NTF-ELCAC executive director Ernesto Torres Jr. said Casilao’s arrest deals a big blow to the CPP-NPA.

“With the arrest of Mr. Casilao, who is the secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee of the CPP, we can now declare that the SMRC, particularly its armed component, is totally defeated. Casilao is also an active member of the Central Committee of the CPP,” he said.

“His arrest in Malaysia, beyond doubt, proves that no criminal or terrorist can escape the long arm of our sovereign laws. Mr. Casilao will have his day in court and will be accorded due process based on our democratic justice system that he and his cohorts have long wished to destroy,” he added.

Torres said the NTF-ELCAC, led by President Marcos himself as chairman and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año as vice chairman, congratulates the Joint Regional Task Force 11; the Peace, Law Enforcement and Development Support Cluster headed by Defense Undersecretary Angelito de Leon and the International Engagement Cluster led by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jesus Domingo for working hand in hand with Malaysian officials in causing the arrest and subsequent deportation of Casilao.

“To our Malaysian counterparts, we express our deepest gratitude. Rest assured that, as we continue to tread the path of genuine peace and equitable development for all, we shall be relentless in running after those who did our fellow Filipinos harm and caused undue suffering and strife on our people for so many years,” he said. – Ralph Edwin Villanueva, Rudy Santos, Michael Punongbayan