The driver of former Pangasinan Gov. and Rep. Amado Espino Jr. succumbed to bullet wounds Thursday, a day after they were ambushed by seven to 10 unidentified gunmen in San Carlos City, Pangasinan last Wednesday, police announced yesterday.
Agapito Quizon died at 6:10 p.m. while undergoing treatment at the Blessed Family Doctors General Hospital in San Carlos City, said Police Lt. Col. Mary Crystal Peralta, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 1 (Ilocos).
Peralta said that the Regional Special Investigation Task Group Espino Jr. has identified the registered owners of the abandoned metallic blue Ford Everest and red Ford Hyundai Elantra hatchback believed to have been used by the suspects as their get-away vehicles.
Peralta released the names of the owners of the vehicles, one female and one male, although the information is still up for validation.
“We have already invited them and this is the next part of our investigation. They have nothing to fear if they have clear consicence. Besides, there’s always a due process,” she said.
The Ford Everest was recovered by the police in Barangay Pasima, Malasiqui, Pangasinan while the Hyundai Elantra was found in Barangay Cobol, San Carlos City in a follow-up operation.
Police said the vehicles must have been abandoned by the suspects as they escaped.
Police found one fragmentation hand grenade, two M14 rifles, magazines for M14 rifle, an M16 rifle, a baby Armalite, and three magazines for M16 rifles inside the Ford Everest.
On the other hand, two baby Armalites, an M16 standard Armalite, five short magazines for M16 rifle, four long magazines for M16 rifle, and 34 live ammunition for M16 rifle were discovered inside the Hyundai Elantra. (Martin Sadongdong)
