The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has yet to finish its probe on the “misencounter” last Feb. 24 between operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in an illegal drugs operation in Quezon City.
The “misencounter” resulted in the deaths of two policemen, two PDEA agents, and an informant.
NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand M. Lavin on Wednesday, June 16, said: “We have not filed a case yet. I understand this is on the final stages of review by our legal.”
Lavin said the NBI investigators “are still examining some remaining pieces of digital forensic evidence.”
“We were able to secure cyber warrants which authorized us to access the phones earlier surrendered in relation to the PNP-PDEA investigation,” he said.
“I hope the public will understand na hindi ganoon kadali. Ang daming pieces of evidence (I hope the public understands that this is not that easy. There are many pieces of evidence),” he explained.
Upon receipt of the report on the PNP-PDEA “misencounter,” Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra immediately directed the NBI to conduct an investigation parallel to that being done by both the PNP and PDEA
But President Duterte ordered both the PNP and PDEA to stop their investigations and ordered the NBI to conduct the probe.