The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been tasked to conduct a separate probe into the “misencounter” on Wednesday night, Feb. 24, between the agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) which resulted in the deaths of at least two policemen.
“I have ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel investigation on the alleged misencounter this evening between PNP anti-illegal drug operatives and PDEA agents at Commonwealth Avenue,” Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said just before midnight on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
Guevarra said the NBI probe “is separate and distinct from the probe to be conducted by an ad hoc joint PNP-PDEA board of inquiry earlier announced by PNP Chief Debold Sinas,” he said.
The shootout took place in front of a mall in Quezon City Wednesday night which resulted in the deaths of two policemen and the wounding of another policeman and three PDEA agents. Following the incident, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana announced that a board of inquiry, composed of investigators from the PNP and PDEA, has been formed to investigate the shooting.
On the part of the PDEA, Spokesperson Derrick Carreon assured that the PDEA Special Enforcement Team was in the area for a legitimate operation.