The aftermath of the shootout in Quezon City. Photo from PNP-PIO
MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has formed a composite team to investigate the shootout in Quezon City between agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and police officers that left four dead, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Saturday.
In a message to reporters, Guevarra said the team is led by NBI deputy director Atty. Antonio Pagatpat, and is assisted by agents of the NBI’s investigation, intelligence, and forensic divisions.
Guevarra also shared what happened during the meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday night, where PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas and PDEA Director-General Wilkins Villanueva were also present.
“The President personally told PDEA chief Villanueva and PNP chief Sinas to discontinue their joint investigation of the shootout incident,” Guevarra said.
This, as Duterte ordered that the NBI will be the sole agency to probe the shootout, citing it was to “ensure impartiality.”
“I requested that both the PDEA and the PNP be directed to extend their full cooperation to the NBI,” the Justice Secretary said.
Four people were killed while four others were injured in the shootout between agents of the PDEA’s Special Enforcement Service (SES) and the District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) of the Quezon City Police that stemmed from a buy-bust operation in a mall along Commonwealth Avenue on Wednesday.