Ex-Huk leader denies kill plot vs candidate

CANDABA, Pampanga — A former top leader of the rebel group Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan (Huk) surfaced yesterday to deny reports that he was plotting to kill a mayoral candidate in this town where the police have deployed at least two companies of heavily armed lawmen to thwart the alleged plot.

Bon Alejandrino, former Huk supremo, sought yesterday the help of Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc to clear himself of allegations that he has remobilized Huk guerrillas to kill Jerry Pelayo.

"I am now living a peaceful life as a small businessman so I was quite surprised to come across published reports dragging me into an assassination plot," Alejandrino said, after explaining to Bondoc that the reports had no basis.

Earlier, Pelayo distributed to residents a letter claiming that his political adversaries had hired Alejandrino to intimidate local voters.

The letter described Alejandrino as a "mercenary" whose armed men are allegedly roaming around Candaba and Arayat in Pampanga, and San Miguel and San Ildefonso in Bulacan supposedly to form "a territorial base."

Pelayo’s allegations have prompted police authorities to dispatch two police companies to the Candaba swamp area to ensure peace and order.

Bondoc, however, said the deployment was "misplaced" since the Candaba swamp, portions of which are part of Bulacan, is a "peaceful area."

"The only armed men there now are the policemen who have been deployed in the area," Bondoc said.

Alejandrino said he has long retired from the Huk movement whose progenitor was an underground guerrilla organization which fought the Japanese during World War II.

Alejandrino was released from jail on subversion charges in 1989. Since then, he said he had never rejoined the Huk movement, although he admitted that some present leaders of the movement have approached him for advice.

Pelayo is running for mayor under the Lakas-NUCD against incumbent Mayor Bienvenido Gatus, who also belongs to the administration party.

Gov. Lito Lapid, however, has openly supported Pelayo whom he credited for backing him up during the Estrada administration when the governor faced threats of suspension due to cases the Office of the Ombudsman lodged against him.

Alejandrino believes that Pelayo’s allegations were prompted by his objection to the proposed conversion of some areas in Candaba into a landfill site for wastes from Caloocan City.

Pelayo served as an administrative officer for Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo until he resigned recently to run for mayor of Candaba.

Alejandrino said Pelayo has allegedly been buying large tracts of land in Candaba in the name of Malonzo, including 90 hectares in Sitio Doña Simang in Barangay San Pablo and another 100 hectares in Barangay Lanang. — Ding Cervantes