LUCENA CITY, Quezon – Police caught a ranking New People’s Army leader in the Bicol region on Tuesday, March 19, in Polangui, Albay.
MAP of Albay with the town of Polangui highlighted.
Philippine National Police-Area Police Command for South Luzon chief Lt. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento identified him as Reynaldo Togado Hugo, 61.
Hugo, who was on board a white Toyota Avanza with license plates VFK-563, was flagged down in a checkpoint.
He was identified and served a warrant of arrest but sped off until he was cornered in Barangay Balangibang. Police searched the vehicle and found guns, bullets, and a grenade.
His three companions were also apprehended – Bryan Llovit, 42; Jeane Recuenco, 42, and Vanessa Avila.
Armamento said that Hugo and his companions are under the custody of the Polangui police for documentation and proper disposition. Pieces of evidence are in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Detection Group-Albay Provincial Field Unit.
Suspects face charges for violating Republic Act 10591 or the comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition.
Hugo was the commanding officer of the Regional Operational Command, Bicol Regional Party Committee (BRPC), and a member of the Executive Committee National Operational Command of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
He had several standing warrants of arrest for murder and direct assault with frustrated murder.