A committee of the House of Representatives is temporarily suspending its scheduled public hearing on the recent deadly ‘’misencounter’’ between Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Quezon City.
The suspension notice was circulated on Saturday by Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Ace Barbers, chairman of the House dangerous drugs committee.
Barbers said he is suspending the scheduled hearing on Monday, in aid of legislation, as a ‘’courtesy to and in order not to hinder the ongoing investigation.’’
He was referring to the directive of President Duterte to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to take over the probe on the shootout to maintain impartiality.
In light of the Duterte's order, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III also called on the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee, led by by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, to focus his scheduled investigation on Tuesday on his bill seeking to create a Presidential Drug Enforcement Agency.
He said the President was right in directing the Department of Justice to investigate the PDEA-PNP ‘misencounter’ because it has prosecutorial powers.