The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) vowed on Monday, Sept. 6, to cooperate “in the legal process and exhaust all legal remedies available after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended the filing of charges against some of its men in connection with the alleged misencounter between its agents and policemen in Quezon City on February 24.
In a statement, PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva welcomed the filing of charges, saying this would provide the “opportunity to answer all allegations against both parties.’’
He added that this will also allow the legal process to ensue and ultimately determine the accountability of those involved and eventually obtain justice.
On June 29, 2021, PDEA filed separate charges against the members of the PNP who were involved in the bloody incident which resulted in the killing of PDEA agent Rankin Gano and the mauling of several PDEA agents.
Villanueva assured the public that this will not hinder the national anti-drug campaign saying that “PDEA and PNP maintains its strong partnership and collaboration in fighting criminality and illegal drugs across the nation.’’ (Chito A. Chavez)