An official of the 10th Infantry Division assured on Tuesday that the person who provided leads for the apprehension of the alleged top leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Eric “Jun” Casilao will receive the P5.4 million reward.
“Sa karon dili nako matubag pa kung kinsa ang makadawat gyud. Rest assured na kani nga reward mahatag ni just like what happened atong naa ta’y tipster sa pag-neutralize kay Menandro Villanueva nga P5.6 million. Just the same dili nako maingon kung kinsa ang makadawat ani pero among isiguro nga mahatag ni sa nagtip sa atoang government force,” said Major Mark Anthony Tito, spokesperson of 10ID, over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Tuesday.
Casilao a.k.a. Elian/Wally/Chan/Kuya, alleged secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) and Central Committee member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), Communist Terrorist Group (CTG), was apprehended at Jeti Point International Clearance Gate, Langkawi, Malaysia on April 1, 2023 through a joint law enforcement operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Bureau of Immigration, and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) and Malaysian Immigration.
“Ang atoang ginapangita na top most wanted NPA leader in Southern Mindanao nadakpan na gyud. Nadakpan nila si Casilao kay naggamit ug fake identity maong nakagawas siya sa nasud. Kay naggamit siya ug fake identity na find out sa atong Malaysian counterpart ug nabutang siya sa Malaysian Red Notice for falsification of passport,” Tito explained.
Casilao was apprehended while boarding a ferry bound for Koh Lipe, Thailand.
Casilao is being labeled as the top-ranking NPA leader of the Southern Mindanao Regional (SMR) Committee and is accused of allegedly killing and burying a fellow rebel fighter in a remote village in New Bataan, Davao de Oro in April 2022.
He also has existing warrants of arrest for crimes of murder, kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and attempted murder.
Tito said with the arrest of Casilao is a success not only for the forces in Davao Region, Southern Mindanao but in the entire Philippines as allegedly several families were victimized by him.
Tito also said Casilao was the one who orchestrated the activities of the NPA in the entire Southern Mindanao.
Tito assured that no matter how notorious Casilao was as an NPA leader, he was given humane treatment and due process by the government.
“Siya ang utok sa mga activities na gibuhat sa NPA. Pero maskin ingon ana pa man siya bisan unsa siya ka notorious nga NPA leader pero gihatagan siya ug humane treatment, due process sa atong gobyerno. Makita gani ninyo sa TV ug social media nga wala gyud tatsa si Eric para atubangon ang iyahang mga kaso,” he said.
