22 charged in ambush of ex-Pangasinan governor

By Liezle Basa-Inigo 

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Twenty-two suspects including 10 John Does, were charged last Monday at the city prosecutor’s office in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, in the ambush of former governor Amado Espino Jr.

In a press conference Wednesday at Pangasinan Provincial Police Office, Brig. Gen. Joel Orduna, Ilocos police chief, identified the suspects as Albert Palisoc, Armando Frias, Benjie Resuktan, Joey Ferrer, Ronnie delos Santos, Gerry Pascua, Sherwin Diaz, Teofilo Ferrer, and Ruseller, Jewel, John Paul and Alfred Pascua.

They were charged with two counts of murder and four counts of frustrated murder together with the 10 John Does.

Police officials said three angles are being looked at – politics, business and personal grudge.

Espino was seriously wounded while his two bodyguards were killed when gunmen fired at his three-vehicle convoy in Barangay Magtaking in San Carlos City at about 4:30 p.m. Sept 11, 2019.

Espino, who is also a former congressman of Pangasinan, was riding in a Sports Utility Vehicle while his security escorts were in the other two other cars.