Ex-NADSU head denies involvement with NPA

Former transport leader Alex Hugo yesterday vehemently denied any involvement with the New People’s Army following his arrest in his house in Argao town last Wednesday.

“Dili na tinuod,” Hugo said in an interview after he was presented to the media by the Police Regional Mobile Group at Camp Sergio Osmeña, Sr.

Hugo also denied owning the gun allegedly recovered in his house in barangay Gutlang, Argao during the raid and said it was planted, even as he said he respected his arresting officers and thanked them for reportedly treating him well.

Hugo said he only owns a replica of an M14 rifle which he used as a prop during the anti-government demonstrations he used to stage when he was yet active in the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo.

Information from the military alleged that Hugo was part of the rebel band that had an encounter with government soldiers in barangay Magsilaw, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental last March, and that he went to Argao for recuperation.

But Hugo argued that when he shied away from the public eye in 2003 after their conflict with some transport leaders, he went home to his town.

“Natunok man ko ani, nag-crutches man gani ko for eight months. Human niani, na-ospital pa pod ko for six months kay diabetic man ko,” Hugo said, insisting that he has medical records to show that he was indeed recuperating from his wounds.

Police Senior Supt. Jesus Gacquing, the chief of the Regional Mobile Group-7 that arrested Hugo, said that they have recovered some documents and papers tracing his participation to the communist group.

“We have recovered here documents on how to be full time members of the NPA. We are monitoring him for a long time,” Gacquing said.  — Garry B. Lao/MEEV