By Gabriela Baron
Former Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Ariel Casilao appealed on Monday, April 17, for the safety of his brother Eric Jun Casilao who was arrested in Malaysia.
Eric was reportedly locked up in Kuala Lumpur International Airport, processing his transfer to Philippine Embassy authorities.
In a statement, Casilao alleged that his brother’s lawyers were denied information regarding the details of his deportation to the Philippines.
Casilao said he is worried for the safety of his brother, this as he called on both the Malaysian and Philippine authorities to “respect and ensure” the protection of Eric’s right under international and national human rights instruments.
“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,” Casilao said.
“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 of his safety,” he added.
According to the Philippine authorities, Casilao was intercepted by the Malaysian Immigration Authority on April 1.
Eric and his wife were supposed to cross Thailand by a ferry.
Eric, an alleged high-ranking communist terrorist group (CTG) leader in Mindanao, was deported from Malaysia Monday morning.
He is also facing charges of murder, attempted, murder, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention.
Casilao was taken to Davao de Oro. With reports from Karen Villanda-cf