The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) hailed on Tuesday, April 18, the arrest and eventual deportation of alleged communist leader Eric Casilao in Malaysia.

(Photo via MANILA BULLETIN)

Col. Medel Aguilar, AFP spokesperson, said Casilao was “behind all the atrocities and crimes” committed by the New People’s Army (NPA) – the armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – in the Davao Region (Region 11).

“The AFP lauds the arrest of the top leader of the CPP’s Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) and member of the party’s Central Committee,” Aguilar said referring to Casilao.

“After the fall of the party organs and NPA units under him, he abandoned his followers and flew outside the country,” he added.

Casilao was intercepted at the Jeti Point International Clearance Gate in Langkawi, Malaysia on April 1 while he was on his way to Koh Lipe, Thailand via a ferry boat, according to Lt. Col. Alex Mindalano, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom).

The arresting officers were composed of joint forces from the Malaysian immigration and police as well as the PNP, AFP, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Bureau of Immigration (BI), and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). 

Casilao was then temporarily detained in Malaysia for violation of immigration laws before being deported to the Philippines on Monday, April 17.

"Casilao is considered the most wanted communist terrorist group (CTG) leader in Southeastern Mindanao, notorious for staging numerous atrocities in the Davao Region and other neighboring regions under the SMRC," Mindalano stated.

Before his arrest, Casilao was put on the Malaysian Red Notice List through the request of the PNP for alleged falsification of his passport by assuming a fake identity. The EastMinCom also released last year a wanted poster of Casilao to fast-track his arrest.

Aguilar thanked the Malaysian authorities for their assistance in arresting Casilao and in "helping our government in its efforts to put an end to the violence perpetrated by the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) in the country."

"His arrest seals the collapse of the communist insurgency in Davao Region,” Aguilar noted.

Various government agencies including the PNP and AFP had been tracking Casilao in Malaysia since last month.

The PNP said Casilao has a P5.4-million bounty on his head, and is facing multiple criminal cases such as two counts of murder both issued by the Regional Trial Court in Nabunturan, Davao De Oro; as well as kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

Police then coordinated with Malaysian authorities to monitor the whereabouts of Casilao who allegedly assumed identities or fictitious names since his passport was already cancelled by the national government.

"Rest assured that the AFP will sustain its efforts to provide a safe and secured environment for the benefit of our people," Aguilar said.

Meanwhile, Casilao’s brother, former Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, appealed to authorities to respect and ensure the protection of the suspect’s rights.

“The 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 PH officials as they have refused to give legal representatives relevant information regarding current status,” Ariel said in a statement on Monday.