The female police asset who was discovered to be a prisoner of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) who was used for the operation that later led to their encounter with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has already submitted a statement.
The document submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) included the exchange of text messages between Jonaire Decena, the police asset, and alleged drug dealer James Tan before the operation resumed in the Commonwealth on February 24.
The QCPD lawyer said this was proof that their operation was legitimate. However, it led to a bloody encounter with PDEA agents.
“Base sa evidence na hawak namin makikita kung sino ang may hawak ng pera. May show money kami para sa entrapment,” explained Noharddin Haron, a lawyer.
The QCPD admitted that Decena was an inmate arrested in January for selling drugs.
The NBI is investigating why Decena was released from jail without the court’s permission.
But the police had an explanation.
QCPD explains using detainee as female asset in cops vs. PDEA shootout
“Considering the restrictions of the pandemic ngayon napakahirap kumuha ng court order . . . Justified yan under Article 11 [ng Revised Penal Code] na puwede kang gumawa ng harm kung ang pakay mo doon ay iwasan ang mas malaking harm,” said Haron.
The QCPD also denied the speculation that a “palit-ulo (head exchange)” would have been done to the said prisoner.
“Palit-ulo” is said to be the work of some operatives where the arrested suspects will be used to pinpoint other drug personalities or assist in the arrest of other suspects, in exchange for their freedom.
It appears from Decena’s text messages that the dealer Tan did not show up in the Commonwealth but that his man alias Bato, who is also an asset of PDEA, allegedly came.
The PDEA declined to comment on the investigation.
PDEA chief Wilkins Villanueva earlier said that as much as possible they do not want to speak because the National Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation into the shooting.
The official is said to be confident that what is true is slowly being seen.
Villanueva insisted that their operation was legitimate so he challenged the QCPD to issue evidence that the PDEA had carried out a “sell-bust.”