Año creates special probe team to look into Espino ambush
Published Sep 13, 2019 02:13 pm
By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday has strongly condemned the ambush of former Pangasinan Governor and Representative Amado Espino, Jr. in San Carlos City Pangasinan.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo from Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN)
With this incident, DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año has ordered the creation of a special police investigation team to go after the perpetrators.
“We vehemently denounce this villainous act as this incident undermines the resolute efforts of our law enforcers to ensure peace and order,” Año said.
He added: “I have given specific instructions to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately create a team to probe the incident and track down the culprits responsible for this crime.”
Based on initial police reports, Espino was on board his Toyota Land Cruiser, backed up by his companions aboard a Toyota Innova, when they were peppered with bullets by unidentified gunmen while they were passing through Barangay Magtaking in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.
Espino survived the ambush but his police escort Police Staff Sergeant Richard Esguerra died in the incident.
Espino’s other security aide initially survived, but later expired while undergoing treatment.
The DILG chief said police operatives were already scouring several areas in the province to track down, and arrest the gunmen.
He noted that police investigators were also following several possible leads on the motive behind the ambush.
Año added the police have also recovered the getaway vehicles used by the suspects, a Ford Everest and a Hyundai Elantra, as well as several long firearms inside the vehicles.
“We will give you updates on the results of the investigation by the police. We want to get to the bottom of this as soon as we can,” Año said.
He also expressed his condolences to the family of Esguerra, assuring them that the government will fast-track the release of a special financial assistance package for them, as well as other types of assistance for police officers who are killed- or wounded-in-action under the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program.
Read more: Ex-Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino wounded in ambush, two security escorts killed
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo from Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN)
With this incident, DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año has ordered the creation of a special police investigation team to go after the perpetrators.
“We vehemently denounce this villainous act as this incident undermines the resolute efforts of our law enforcers to ensure peace and order,” Año said.
He added: “I have given specific instructions to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately create a team to probe the incident and track down the culprits responsible for this crime.”
Based on initial police reports, Espino was on board his Toyota Land Cruiser, backed up by his companions aboard a Toyota Innova, when they were peppered with bullets by unidentified gunmen while they were passing through Barangay Magtaking in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.
Espino survived the ambush but his police escort Police Staff Sergeant Richard Esguerra died in the incident.
Espino’s other security aide initially survived, but later expired while undergoing treatment.
The DILG chief said police operatives were already scouring several areas in the province to track down, and arrest the gunmen.
He noted that police investigators were also following several possible leads on the motive behind the ambush.
Año added the police have also recovered the getaway vehicles used by the suspects, a Ford Everest and a Hyundai Elantra, as well as several long firearms inside the vehicles.
“We will give you updates on the results of the investigation by the police. We want to get to the bottom of this as soon as we can,” Año said.
He also expressed his condolences to the family of Esguerra, assuring them that the government will fast-track the release of a special financial assistance package for them, as well as other types of assistance for police officers who are killed- or wounded-in-action under the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program.
Read more: Ex-Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino wounded in ambush, two security escorts killed