MULTIPLE cases against Eric Jun Casilao, one of the most wanted Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) leader in Mindanao, will be filed against him following his arrest, an army official said.
“He has several warrants of arrest for the crimes of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention,” Major Mark Anthony Tito, 10th Infantry Division (10ID) spokesperson, said in a press conference held at the Davao City Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on April 17, 2023.
He added that the CIDG is still checking other crimes that Casilao has committed.
Tito said Casilao was arrested on April 1, 2023, at Jeti Point International Clearance Gate, Langkawi, Malaysia.
He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Bureau of Immigration, and Department of Foreign Affairs conducted “a joint law enforcement operation with the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) and Malaysian Immigration that resulted in the apprehension of Casilao while he was boarding a ferry bound for Koh Lipe, Thailand.”
Tito added that Casilao was put on the Malaysian Red Notice List due to falsification of passport “assuming fake identity” and was detained for violating Malaysian Immigration laws and then deported to the Philippines on April 17, 2023.
Casilao was also known as Elian/Wally/Chan/Kuya. He is also the Secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) and Central Committee member of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Communist Terrorist Group (CTG).
Meanwhile, former Secretary of Guerilla Front 55 Arian Jane Ramos, said in an interview with 10ID that Casilao allegedly abandoned the group and escaped to save himself.
“As an NPA cadre, leaving one's NPA unit goes against the CPP's doctrine. How much more leaving the country? NPA cadres are expected to lead their people on the ground,” Ramos said.
“However, in the case of Casilao, he left SMRC and the country because he could not bear the suffering that SMRC was experiencing. He left, thinking only of saving himself, and leaving his comrades to either die of hunger or in armed encounters,” she added.
Following the arrest of one of the most wanted CPP-NPA leader, Tito said CTG leaders have no place to hide.
“Even outside the country, they can still be neutralized through surrender or apprehension,” Tito said.
MGen Jose Eriel M Niembra, 10ID Commander in a press release statement said that the “government is determined to capture CTG leaders and terrorists wherever they are.” KSD