Sought-after Cordillera rebel leader captured in Ilocos Norte raid
Art Dumlao — October 21, 2024
Sought-after Cordillera rebel leader captured in Ilocos Norte raid
Simon “Ka Filiw” Naogsan Sr. photograph (via Artemio A. Dumlao)
BAGUIO CITY (October 21, 2024)— Much sought-after by government security forces to catch for decades, Cordillera Peoples Democratic Front (CPDF) spokesman Simon Fiaryao Naogsan Sr. alias “Ka Filiw” finally fell after intelligence operatives from the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division and policemen caught him 5AM Monday morning during a raid at a house he was temporarily taking refuge in Bacarra town in Ilocos Norte.
His capture, Major General Gulliver L. Señires, 5th ID commander said, ‘is a significant blow to the remaining communist armed movement in Northern Luzon’.
Naogsan Sr., also with the nom de guerre “Ka Wayat”, the military said, who held various key positions including Executive Committee Member of the CPP-NPA Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC), head of Regional Propaganda, and former Secretary of the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla (KLG) codenamed “Marco” (for Mountain Province) also under the ICRC, was cornered at #154 Don Marcelo Dacuycuy St., Brgy 01, Sta Rita in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
The rebel leader, a former government engineer at the Commission on Audit before he joined the NPA in 1991 because of his disillusionment on corruption in government, faces multiple charges of murder and attempted murder filed before the Regional Trial Courts (RTC) of Ifugao and Mountain Province. He carries a P2.7million reward for his capture.
Naogsan’s arrest, MGen Senires added, came after the capture of three senior cadres of the ICRC of the CPP-NPA in Conner, Apayao Province, more than a week ago, “showcasing the continuous dismantling of the leadership structure of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the region.”
He added, “the success of this operation is a testament to our troops' dedication and the community's unwavering support.” He further hinted that the information provided by residents was crucial in tracking Naogsan Sr. and ensuring his arrest. “This demonstrates the growing partnership between the military and the community and the diminishing support for the communist insurgents due to the improved services in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Conflict-Affected Areas (GIDCAs).”
The military official believed, “the arrest of Naogsan Sr. marks another victory in the ongoing campaign against insurgency in Northern Luzon, bringing the Philippine Army closer to its goal of a peaceful and progressive region free from the threats of communist terrorism.”
According to the non-government human rights group Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA), Naogsan Sr., already in his late 70’s, “was in Ilocos Norte to seek medical attention.”
A team reportedly sent by IHRA to check on Naogsan Sr. confirmed “he was initially detained at the Bacarra Municipal Police Station but has since been moved to an undisclosed location.”
IHRA is raising concern about Naogsan Sr.’s “safety and well-being” and is calling “for the immediate disclosure of his location and the protection of his rights, particularly due to his medical condition.
