Cops not ruling out illegal drugs in attack on Espino

PANGASINAN HIT Former Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. was traveling in this vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser, when armed men ambushed his group in San Carlos City on Wednesday. Espino was wounded while one of his five security aides was killed in the afternoon attack. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SAN CARLOS CITY—The Philippine National Police is not discounting the anti-illegal drug crusade of former Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. as a motive behind the attempt by heavily armed men to kill him on Wednesday.

Espino, 71, also a former Pangasinan lawmaker, was previously included in President Duterte’s narcolist but his name was eventually stricken off because of his anti-illegal drug stance and the absence of evidence showing his involvement in the narcotics trade.

On Thursday, Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, the PNP spokesperson, said investigators were looking at all possible motives, most of these related to Espino’s previous post as governor.

“We believe that [Espino] was able to perform well when he was governor. He was a big help to our campaign against illegal drugs and there were drug syndicates which might have been affected by his campaign,” Banac said.

Two weeks before the ambush, Espino had been getting death threats, Police Col. Redrico Maranan, Pangasinan police director, said, adding that the former governor had requested for police escorts.

But Maranan declined to disclose the nature and the source of the threats, noting that they were still gathering evidence to establish the motive behind Wednesday’s attack.

Espino and his aides were on a two-car convoy when the gunmen opened fire at them at Barangay Magtaking in San Carlos City at 4:30 p.m.

Espino sustained bullet wounds on his arm and body while one of his aides, Police Master Sergeant Richard Esguerra, died instantly.

‘Felonious act’

The former governor was in stable condition at a Pangasinan hospital while one of his three wounded bodyguards remained in critical condition.

Those wounded were Agapito Cuizon, the driver; and Police Staff Sergeant Jason Malsi. Also hurt was Kevin Marbori who was with Esguerra in the backup car.

Malacañang denounced the attack as a “felonious act” as it assured that police would spare no effort in running after the perpetrators.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the police were on top of the investigation of the ambush.

“We believe that any unjustified killing has no place in a civilized society like ours,” he said, adding that “we will spare no effort in … ascertaining the motive for consummating the same.”

Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde, the PNP chief, also condemned the attack and ordered the Ilocos region police to launch a manhunt for the suspects and to hasten the investigation.

Maranan said the gunmen were waiting at the crime scene and went out of their vehicles when they spotted Espino’s convoy.

Pumped with bullets

Maranan said Espino’s car, a black Toyota Land Cruiser, did not stop while it was being pumped with bullets.

Espino’s driver took the car to a hospital, 150 meters from the ambush site. The driver of Espino’s backup vehicle, a black Toyota Innova, was unhurt and immediately left.

Investigators recovered at least 169 spent shells from the site.

An hour after the attack, police recovered the two vehicles used by the gunmen. One of the vehicles, a red Hyundai Elantra, was abandoned in Barangay Cubol, 2 kilometers from the crime scene. The other vehicle, a Ford Everest, was recovered at Barangay Pasima in Malasiqui town.

Found inside the two cars were two M14 rifles and a customized M16 rifle, a hand grenade and bullets, jackets and bonnets.

Espino lost in his reelection bid as a representative of the province’s fifth district in the May 13 midterm elections. His son, Amado Espino III, is the incumbent Pangasinan governor.