At least 5 suspects eyed in slay of PDEA agents — PNP

PNP Spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. INQUIRER.net file photo

Investigators are eyeing more than five suspects in the killing of five Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives in Lanao Del Sur last Friday and that cases could soon be filed against them, Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. revealed Tuesday.

“Sa ngayon base sa imbestigasyon ng SITG (Special Investigation Task Group), meron na po tayong suspects (As of now, based on the investigation of the SITG, we already have suspects),” he said in a press briefing.

“Basta more than five, not more than ten [suspects],” he added.

READ: 5 PDEA agents killed, 2 others injured in Lanao del Sur ambush

According to Durana, the suspects, whose names were withheld for security reasons, are linked to the illegal drug trade in the province.

But Durana noted the suspects could be charged soon with multiple murder and frustrated murder cases.

Meanwhile, Durana said investigation on five police officers, who allegedly left behind the PDEA agents before the ambush, has been transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

He explained the PNP and PDEA have agreed on this move to prevent “whitewashing” and to allow an impartial investigation.

READ: PDEA looks into involvement of pols, cops in ambush-slay of anti-drug agents

Durana then said the incident could have been a case of mistaken identity.

He said that an anti-drug operation was launched by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) in the province last August, where a drug personality was killed.

According to Durana, those behind last Friday’s attack could be avenging on the death of their slain cohort, but have mistakenly targeted agents of the PDEA, which he said sounded like PDEU. /kga