Son of Cordillera rebel leader to face murder raps

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – The son of underground Cordillera Peoples Democratic Front Spokesperson Simon Naogsan taken last Monday by police and military intelligence agents will face two murder and one frustrated murder cases in various courts in Mt. Province.

Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong confirmed the arrest Thursday morning, more than two days after Grayson Naogsan was taken reportedly by operatives of the PNP’s Regional Intelligence Unit 14, Regional Intelligence Division of the Cordillera police, Baguio City and Mt. Province policemen and Military Intelligence Group 1 of the ISAFP.  He said the younger Naogsan is facing two murder and one frustrated murder cases in Bontoc, Mt. Province’s capital town.

Earlier,  family members and Baguio-based human rights group Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) were reportedly alarmed after the younger Naogsan went “missing” after the arrest.

But Magalong said intelligence agents took Naogsan, allegedly a political officer of the Abra Provincial Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines-Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee, at around 3:30 p.m. on  Monday, Nov. 5 while he and his companion were having coffee at a shopping mall on top of Luneta Hill here.

Naogsan and his companion, the CHRA claimed, were shown a warrant of arrest that indicated his name while handguns were poked at their sides discreetly. 

Naogsan was handcuffed and was separated from his companion. They told his companion that they will take Naogsan to Camp Crame, CHRA spokesperson Jude Baggo said.

 Naogsan was reportedly led out of the mall through the backstairs by three of the men and used a jacket to cover his handcuff.

At around 5:00.m., the wife of Naogsan reportedly called his cellphone and he said that he was already out of Baguio and was allegedly being brought to Camp Crame. 

Baggo said Naogsan’s wife last heard of him in the morning of Nov. 6 and he has been out of reach since then.

Magalong said the younger Naogsan carries a P700,000 reward from the Department of Interior and Local Government for his arrest.

More than five years ago,  Naogsan’s brother—Simon Jr. – was slain in a firefight with government troopers in Abra province.