Ilocos region police say Espino driver dies

September 13, 2019

The Ilocos region police on Friday said the driver of former Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino died Thursday evening.

In a press briefing, Police Lieutenant Colonel Mary Crystal Peralta, Ilocos police spokesperson, said Agapito Quizon died around 6:10pm.

“But former governor Espino and his two police escorts are now on stable condition,” Peralta said.

Peralta said the Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group identified the alleged owners of the recovered vehicles.

“The recovered Hyundai Elantra was named under Marivic Villanueva and the Ford Everest was named under John Paul Regalado,” she said.

She said these personalities will be invited as they elevated the special investigation task group (SITG) to regional level.

“That’s our next (step) in our investigation as they can be a big help on the investigation,” Peralta added.

On whether the vehicles are carnapped, she said the process of determining the status of the vehicle is being handled by the HPG.

The Ilocos regional police office believed the suspects left their vehicles.

“For us, it is possible that they left it… because when we do flash alarm, it is not only within Pangasinan but the whole region,” said Peralta.

“Maybe they leave it behind because of fear during that time of checkpoint operations,” she added.

On the driver who went home after the incident, the police spokesperson said the provincial director of Pangasinan police talked to him but he still traumatized.

Peralta said they already have other witnesses and are reviewing CCTv footages near the incident.

She said as the investigation is ongoing, they have yet to establish a clear motive.

On Thursday it was revealed that Espino has been receiving threats weeks before the ambush.

Peralta said they provided additional security  on the hospital where Espino is confined.

“Because we cannot give others a chance to commit (another crime)… but of course here in the region, we can only provide 15 days (security) so we need to elevate for approval of the director of PSPG (Police Security and Protection Group) for his security,” she said.

Espino and his police escorts were ambushed along the city of San Carlos last September 11. Ella Dionisio/DMS