MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be the sole agency to investigate the “misencounter” between the operatives of Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday afternoon that President Rodrigo Duterte personally authorized the NBI to probe the shootout near a mall along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday evening which leaves four casualties.
“Nagdesisyon po ang ating Presidente na tanging NBI lang po ang mag-iimbestiga doon sa putukan na nangyari sa panig ng mga kapulisan at ng PDEA dyan po sa Quezon City,” said Roque.
According to Roque, Duterte came out with the order to ensure the impartiality of the investigation as the planned joint panel of PNP and PDEA will not push through with its probe.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas and PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva assured that PNP and PDEA will continue with their fights against illegal drugs in the country and intensify coordination so the incident will not happen again.
Villanueva, for his part, said that the unfortunate incident will not dampen ties between the two agencies.
“Mas lumakas kami. Mas naging dikit kami. This incident will not result sa paghihiwalay ng pulis at PDEA. Lalo po naming pag-iibayuhin ang coordination ng isa’t isa. Dahil kung di namin gagawin yan, isa lang ang mananalo dito – ilegal na droga. At yan ay hindi namin papayagan,” he added./PN
