3 suspects in ambush of former Pangasinan governor nabbed

BY LIEZLE BASA INIGO

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Three alleged members of a criminal gang responsible for the ambush of former Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. were arrested Sunday in Barangay Poblacion, San Juan, Batangas.

Police identified the suspects as Albert Palisoc, Benjie Resultan, and Armando Frias Jr. – all included in the list of the region’s top wanted persons.

They were arrested upon serving the warrants of arrest for murder, attempted murder, and frustrated murder.

Recovered from them were two .45-caliber Colt pistol, 20 pieces of live ammunition for caliber 45, two magazines, fake driver’s license card, and a silver Nissan Sentra.

The suspects are alleged members of the Sison Criminal Group and natives of Urbiztondo, Pangasinan.

Capt. Arturo Melchor, Pangasinan Provincial Police Office information officer, said the suspects were arrested by the intelligence operatives of San Juan Police led by Lt. Col. Marlon Cabatana, chief of police, together with personnel of CIDG-Batangas, Police Regional Office 1, and other law enforcement units around 10:45 a.m.

Pangasinan Police director Police Col. Ronald Gayo revealed that they were the three were tagged in the ambush of former Gov. Armando Espino Jr. of Pangasinan, father of incumbent Gov. Amado Espino III, on September 11, 2019 at San Carlos City, Pangasinan. At least 22 suspects were charged before the city prosecutor’s office in San Carlos City.

It can be recalled that the then governor was seriously wounded while his two bodyguards were killed in an ambush staged by gunmen in Barangay Magtaking in San Carlos City, Pangasinan. (Liezle Basa Inigo)