3 PDEA, 4 PNP operatives indicted over 2021 ‘misencounter’ in QC
FILE PHOTO: DOJ logo. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Government prosecutors have indicted three agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and four personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the February 2021 shootout in Quezon City that resulted in the death of four people.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement Thursday that those indicted for homicide are PDEA agents Khee Maricar Rodas, Jeffrey Baguidudol, and Jelou Satiniaman for the death of P/Cpl. Eric Elvin Garado.
On the other hand, P/Cpl. Paul Christian Gandeza is being indicted for direct assault for the injuries sustained by PDEA agent Raymart Bayote; while P/Lt. Honey Besas is being indicted also for direct assault for injuring PDEA agent Prince Bernard Gallego, as P/Maj. Sandie Caparroso will also be facing direct assault for the injuries of PDEA agent Brenson Sulang. Caparroso, together with P/SMSG Melvin Merida will likewise be facing direct assault for the injuries of PDEA agent Allan Capiral.
The case stemmed from the complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which conducted an independent investigation on the infamous incident upon the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Investigation showed that both PDEA and PNP were conducting separate buy-bust operations along Commonwealth Avenue. However, the two informants intertwined the operations of the two agencies.
Quoting the resolution of the prosecutor, the DOJ statement explained that the vehicle carrying the PDEA agents and its informant overheated forcing them to park their vehicle outside a fast-food chain near a mall along Commonwealth Avenue. Meanwhile, the police informant informed them that the transaction would instead push through at the same parking area where the PDEA agents were. Upon arrival, the police informant together with Garado approached the vehicle of the PDEA agents and it was at this point that the shooting started.
“After evaluation of the evidence, the Panel of Prosecutors found sufficient evidence to charge the three PDEA agents for homicide for the death of Garado,” read the statement.
But the prosecutors cleared PDEA agent Romeo Asuncion of homicide complaint on the death of P/Cpl. Lauro De Guzman “on the ground that the firearm and caliber used to shoot the police officer was never identified.”
“None of the evidence bullets or the spent cartridges found at the area matches agent Asuncion’s firearm,” it added.
Also dismissed was the homicide complaint against P/Cpl. Alvin Borja for the death of PDEA agent Rankin Gano.
“The medico-legal report and the ballistic examination by the NBI-FILD failed to identify the fatal shot at agent Gano. There is also no record showing that [Borja] was the only one who actually shot Gano,” the DOJ statement read.
Meanwhile, complaints on attempted homicide, falsification of an official document, robbery, conniving to or consenting to evasion, arbitrary detention, sedition, and violation of the Anti-Torture Act have been dismissed by the DOJ “for insufficiency of evidence.”
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