PDEA confirms more fatalities in QC shootout with PNP

MANILA, Philippines  — Two more fatalities were recorded in the shooting incident that transpired between agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), bringing the total deaths to four.

In a joint press briefing, PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva said that the additional fatalities were of a PDEA agent and an informant.

“Dalawang ahente ang critically wounded subalit stable na sila ngayon [Two agents were critically wounded but are now stable],” Villanueva later added.

The chief of the Metro Manila police, Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., earlier confirmed that two cops died during the shootout, which he described as a “misencounter.” Aside from the fatalities, the shootout also resulted to four wounded personnel.

PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon, meanwhile, said that its Special Enforcement Service (SES) agents were conducting a “legitimate” buy-bust operation when the gunfight broke out.

A Quezon City lawmaker later called on the House of Representatives to investigate the matter. The Senate, meanwhile, has scheduled its own investigation into the shootout on Tuesday, March. 2.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. earlier confirmed that two police officers died during the shootout, which he described as a “misencounter.”

/MUF