Congress, NBI to conduct separate investigations on PDEA vs. PNP shootout

The House of Representatives will conduct a “motu proprio” investigation into the bloody shooting between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in which four people were killed. The National Bureau of Investigation was also ordered by the Palace to also investigate.

The House investigation, which will be held on Monday, March 1, will be led by House Committee on Dangerous Drugs chairman Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers.

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Barbers had earlier said that there were many questions in the encounter that took place in the crowded parking lot of a fast-food restaurant on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, in which two policemen, a PDEA agent, and a PDEA “asset” were killed.

He also said that one of the things that need to be known is why the shooting happened even though both sides say that their different operations in the same place are both legitimate.

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs will also conduct a separate investigation into the incident.

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Meanwhile, the PNP and PDEA formed a Board of Inquiry to find out why the encounter took place with their personnel.

But according to the Palace, President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a directive that the NBI is the only law enforcement agency that will investigate the encounter.

Congress, NBI to conduct separate investigations on PDEA vs. PNP shootout

“Nagdesisyon po ang ating Pangulo na tanging NBI lang po ang mag-iimbestiga dun sa putukang nangyari sa panig ng mga kapulisan at ng PDEA diyan po sa Quezon City,” Roque said.

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(Our President has decided that only the NBI will investigate the shooting that took place on the side of the police and the PDEA in Quezon City.)

“This is to ensure impartiality on the  incident,” Roque added.

Because of Duterte’s order, the joint investigation conducted by the PDEA and the Philippine National Police (PNP) would no longer push through, Roque said.

“Iyong mga joint panel na binuo ng PDEA at PNP, hihinto na po sila sa kanilang imbestigasyon. Talagang NBI na lang po talaga ang matutuloy ng imbestigasyon,” he said.

(Those joint panels formed by the PDEA and PNP will stop their investigation. Only the NBI can really continue the investigation.)