Suspects in ex-Pangasinan PNP exec’s murder known

By Eva Visperas

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan— Police have identified two persons of interest who could shed light on the murder of former Pangasinan police director Marlo Chan in Calasiao on Jan. 9.

Edwin Ferrer, a resident of Barangay Gayaman in Binmaley, reportedly offered to accompany Chan to the hospital after he was shot, while businessman Ashok Vasandani of Dagupan City met with the former police official in a restaurant shortly before the incident, Lt. Col. Joseph Fajardo, Calasiao police chief said. 

Fajardo said Vasandani followed Chan’s vehicle when they left the restaurant.

Police clarified that persons of interest are not necessarily suspects.

Ferrer was arrested during a raid on his house a day after Chan was killed. He reportedly yielded a caliber .45 pistol, bullets and a hand grenade.

Ferrer, who was tagged in contract killings, has a pending case for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition before a court in Pangasinan.

“He was a former provincial police director and had a colorful service and business interests... For now we cannot disclose yet the likeliest angle because we are still investigating,” Fajardo said.

Chan was killed in an ambush in Barangay Nalsian in Calasiao.

Police said Marlo Chan, a resident of San Quintin town, was declared dead on arrival at the Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital. He suffered 12 gunshot wounds.

Initial investigation showed that Chan was in a Ford Ranger with license plate C2E590 when he was waylaid.

His driver was unhurt.

Chan was Pangasinan police director from 2013 to 2015 before he was assigned to Camp Crame until he retired in March last year.

He was also former deputy director of the Philippine National Police Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Southern Luzon.