ARRESTED. Arnulfo Alipio, a prime suspect in the foiled
2019 ambush of former Pangasinan governor Amado Espino Jr., is arrested in
Barangay Naguilayan, Binmaley, Pangasinan on Monday (Sept. 25, 2023). Alipio
carried a PHP355,000 bounty. (Photo courtesy of Pangasinan Police Provincial
Office)
11 arrested out of 13 suspects
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- One of the alleged financiers in the 2019 ambush of former Pangasinan governor and congressman Amado Espino Jr. was arrested in Binmaley town early Monday, Pangasinan police director Col. Jeff Fanged said.
In a press conference at the Provincial Police Office here, Fanged said former Binmaley councilor Arnulfo Cerezo Alipio, popularly known as "Anong," was nabbed by a composite team from the PPO and the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) upon his arrival at his house in Barangay Naguilayan in Binmaley at 1:10 a.m.
Alipio has a P355,000 bounty on his head.
He did not resist when the arrest warrants were served to him, Fanged said.
The arrest warrants were issued by Presiding Judge Magnolia Cayetano of the Regional Trial Court, 1st Judicial Region, Branch 56, San Carlos City, Pangasinan dated Feb. 15, 2021.
Alipio is facing multiple serious criminal offenses, such as two counts of murder, frustrated murder and three counts of attempted murder in connection with the ambush of Espino and his companions on Sept. 11, 2019 at Barangay Magtaking in San Carlos City.
Espino survived the ambush, but an aide was killed on the spot and his driver died while being treated in a hospital.
Fanged said that Alipio is the 11th to be arrested out of the 13 suspects implicated in the Espino ambush.
"Only two of them remain at large now," said Fanged.
He said that in the last five months, several police units have been working together to capture Alipio.
Fanged said Alipio is a key member of the infamous Sison Group, which had been allegedly involved in several gun-for-hire activities in Pangasinan and neighboring provinces.
"Throughout the operation, the officers diligently adhered to protocol, using an alternative recording device and ensuring that Alipio's constitutional rights were respected," Fanged said.
Alipio is now under the custody of the Binmaley police.
He refused to be interviewed by the local media.
"This successful operation speaks volumes about the painstaking operational research and the relentless efforts of the multiagency warrant service teams, who worked together tirelessly to uphold peaceand security," Fanged said.
Aside from the PPO and PIU, Fanged also thanked the Binmaley police station, Tambo Police sub-station in Parañaque City, Parañaque City police station, and the Regional Intelligence Division in Region 1, among others.
Fanged said Alipio was monitored by authorities for five months prior to the arrest.
“We employed also civilian agents to eventually catch the most wanted person in the province,” he said.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government had offered the reward of P355,000 for his capture.
“Throughout the operation, the officers diligently adhered to protocol, using an alternative recording device and ensuring Alipio's constitutional rights were respected. Presently undergoing necessary documentation and disposition, Mr. Alipio remains securely in custody,” the PPPO said.
Fanged said the suspect has multiple warrants of arrest for a range of serious criminal offenses, including two counts of murder, frustrated murder and three counts of attempted murder, all related to the foiled ambush.
Espino and five others on board two vehicles were ambushed at the intersection of Barangay Magtaking and Barangay Ilang in San Carlos City Sept. 11, 2019.
Espino was wounded while his driver and one of his security aides were killed. – With a PNA report
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