MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Monday that the outcome of the investigation into the misencounter between police and anti-illegal drugs agents last February will be vital in further improving coordination during operations.
Eleazar welcomed the Department of Justice revelation that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is nearing completion of its investigation into the shooting in Quezon City between cops and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents during a drug operation.
“Makakaasa ang ating mga kababayan na muli naming pag-uusapan ang anumang resulta ng imbestigasyong ito upang ma-improve pa ang coordination protocol na ginawa base naman sa perspektibo ng ating DOJ (We assure the public that we will discuss the results of the investigation in order to further improve the coordination protocol we developed, based on the perspective of the DOJ),” Eleazar said in a statement.
The final report could be submitted by the end of the month, according to the Justice Department.
Two police personnel, a PDEA agent, and an informant were killed in a gunfight between police and PDEA agents near a mall on Commonwealth Avenue on February 24.
Despite the fact that the investigation into the misencounter is still ongoing, the PNP and PDEA issued a joint memorandum circular in July outlining guidelines to be followed in anti-illegal drug operations.
“The unfortunate incident between the anti-narcotics operatives of the PNP and the PDEA in Quezon City was a tragedy that we both learned a lot from. As a result of this, nagkaroon ng isang napakagandang coordination protocol na pinangunahan ko mismo at ni PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva na ngayon ay ipinapatupad na down to the ground level (We came up with a coordination protocol that would be observed and implemented down to the ground level),” Eleazar said.
PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon has declined to comment on the issue until the NBI probe conclusions are released.
