Two administration lawmakers are eyeing a congressional inquiry into Wednesday’s apparent "misencounter" between operatives of two anti-drug law enforcement units in Quezon City.
In separate press statements issued Thursday, February 25, Reps. Robert Ace Barbers (NP, Surigao del Norte) and Precious Hipolito-Castelo (NUP, Quezon City) lamented that the incident had caused the loss of lives of law enforcers and endangered innocent civilians then present at the fastfood restaurant and mall located on Commonwealth Avenue.
The two lawmakers noted that both the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency have claimed their men were conducting legitimate anti-narcotics operations when the incident took place.
“If this is so, there could be no firefight because there should be coordination between them as required under sec 86 of RA 9165 before any legitimate anti-drug operation can be carried out. Under this section, the police should properly coordinate with PDEA but it appears that the police did not,” said Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.
Barbers said reports indicating that high-ranking police officers were present during the supposed ‘uncoordinated buy-bust” should provide probers another angle to look into.
“On the other hand, news footages showing several PDEA agents in uniform taking positions during the early stages of the fight seems to show a prepared operation,” he noted.
Castelo said she intends to file a resolution calling for a congressional inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the incident. She said the House probe will focus “on the adequacy or inadequacy of the law, Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.”
She pointed out that under the law, PDEA shall be the lead agency in the enforcement of RA 9165 and that “as far as practicable” coordination should be made with the agency if other police or anti-drug units are operating.
“Is the provision on coordination clear enough for our law enforcers to avoid incidents such as what happened in my district on Wednesday? Does Congress have to make it clearer by for instance requiring agencies to disclose the details of their intended anti-drug operations?” Castelo asked.
She stressed that the alleged misencounter and the resulting loss of life and injuries “were totally preventable.”
Castelo added that the incident put at risk the lives of motorists, pedestrians, patrons of the establishment and the nearby mall where it happened, and residents in the area.