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 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.
Police Capt. Arturo Melchor, Pangasinan Provincial Police Office information officer, said the suspects were arrested by intelligence operatives of the San Juan, Batangas police led by Police 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 Espino, father of incumbent Gov. Amado Espino III, last Sept. 11, 2019 in San Carlos City, Pangasinan. At least 22 suspects were charged before the city prosecutor’s office in San Carlos City.
Espino was seriously wounded while his two bodyguards were killed in the ambush in Barangay Magtaking.