NBI says charges will be filed in Feb. 24 PNP-PDEA 'misencounter'
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has started its final review of its probe in the “misencounter” among operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Quezon City last Feb. 24.
When asked if charges would be filed, NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand M. Lavin said: “Definitely, yes.”
Immediately after the incident, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra directed the NBI to conduct a probe. Both PNP and PDEA also started their joint investigation.
But President Duterte directed the NBI as the sole agency to conduct the investigation. With the President’s directive, the NBI’s National Capital Region Office continued with its probe.
Lavin said that the NBI’s NCR Office is determining who among those involved in the incident should be charged and what charges should be filed.
“Everything is under review by our investigating team,” he said.
Five persons – two policemen, two PDEA agents and a PDEA informant – died during the incident.
Both the PNP and PDEA claimed that their respective operatives were engaged in legitimate anti-illegal drugs operations.