PDEA conducting legit buy-bust when Commonwealth shootout happened -spokesman

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday insisted that their agents were conducting a legitimate buy-bust at the Ever Gotesco Mall compound on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City when a shootout erupted that killed two policemen.

“Hindi pa po malinaw ‘yong detalye base don mga pangyayari kanina except for the fact na ang alam po natin ay nag-coordinate ang ating mga tropa for a legitimate buy-bust operation in that area,” PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon said in an interview on “State of the Nation.”

He added that the PDEA agents had proper documents to back up the legitimacy of their buy-bust operation.

“One thing is for sure, ‘yong ating mga tropa ay nag-coordinate at may proper na documents supporting a buy-bust operation and in fact may hawak po silang buy-bust money na talagang tunay na pera,” Carreon said.

Meanwhile, Carreon said it was too early to say that the shootout was a misencounter as investigation is still ongoing.

Two policemen were killed in a shootout between members of the Quezon City Police District and PDEA agents on Wednesday evening.

Carreon said those injured were already brought to the hospital for medical treatment.

He added that PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva, Philippine National Police chief police General Debold Sinas and QCPD chief Police Brigadier General Danilo Macerin are already discussing the incident. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/MDM, GMA News