Thursday, 3 October 2019
T#HH+e
Iwo counts of murder and four counts of frustrated murder \
were filed by police against 22 suspects before the San Carlos
City Prosecutor's 0ffice
By Francis T, Waksllold
The Police Re$onal Police-1 (PB0-1)
on Wednesday declared the arnbush of
former Pangasinan governor and 5th
districi Rep. Amado Espino Jr. in San
Carlos City as solved.
This, after police filed cases of
murder and frustrated murder against
22 suspects who were allegedly involved
in Espino's ambush which resulted in
the death of his bofi{uard and personal
driver last 1l September.
Espino managed to survived the
. Espino, which he himself headed.
attack -sustaining bullet wounds to
his body and shoulder.
His bodguard Police Staff Sgt. Richard
Esguena died on the spot while his &iver
Agapito Cuiz0n later expired in a hospital.
Brig. Gen. Joel Ordufra, PR0-1
director, said two counts of murder and
four counts of frustrated murder were
filed by police againsi 22 suspects before
the San Carlos City Prosecutor's Office.
0rdufla said tlle solving of the case
came about following three weeks
of extensive investigation conducted
by members of the Regional Special
Investigation Task Group (RSITG)
"The solution of the said complex and
sensational case is a great breakthrough
not onll for the prqbers of Pangasinan
Provincial Police Office but to all
Pangashrense. This definitely is a proof
lha[ the PNP remains steadfast in
providing public service at its best,"
Ordufla said in his repofi.
He said based on sufficient forensic
examination and other pieces of
evidence, the RSITG Espino positively
identified at least 12 suspects allegedly
responsibld for the arnbush.
These were Albert Palisoc, who uses
the aliases "Alvin Pascaran" "Mark
Anthony Palisoc' and .Claudio Gabriel';
Armando Frias, alias "Jong;" Beqiie
Resultan; Joey tr'errer; Ronnie de los
\ eAqe -lgiltt/
Daily Tribune
Santos; Gerry Pascua alias "Kagawad
Guarpo;' Sherwin Diaz, Teofilo Ferrer
allas aPong;" a certain Russeller alias
Sel;" Jewel Castroj Jolm Paul Regalado;
Alfred Pascaran and 10 other John Does,
who are accessories to the murder case.
Ordufra said l,bat based on l,heir
investigation, the suspects are said to
be members of a gun-for-hire s).ndicate
while the 10 Johr Does are masterminds
and financiers to the crime.
He added that investigators were
able to determine that Castro and
Regalado are the owners of the
vehicles used in the atiempted slay of
Espino - a red Hyundai Elantra which
was'recovered in in Barangay Cobol
in San Carlos Cit$ PangaSinan, and
the metallic blue Ford Dverest which
was recovered in Barangay Pasima in
Malasiqui, also in Pangasinan.
Meanwhile, 0rdufla urged the
public to take courage and'report
any information that wiu help i& the
identification of the other suspects'and
whereabouts to the PNP hotline number
0917 51?5305.
J
{his development is ju.st the staft of
wen shingenl campaign against criminatity
in the povince so that the sarrifice of our
fallen comrade PSSG Esguena shall not rest
in vain but will serve as an irspiration to
all men and i4omen of Paqasinan PPO t0
sene with passion and utmost deditation,o
Ordufra said.
Before entering politics, Espino was
a former police officer who retired from
the PNP in 2000. Ile is a is a member
of the Philippine Military Academy
Class 1972.