QC cops, PDEA agents figure in Commonwealth shootout; 2 dead

Two policemen were killed in a shootout between members of the Quezon City Police District and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Tweets posted by GMA News' James Agustin indicated that members of the QCPD District Special Operations Unit conducted a buy-bust operation at a fast food joint beside the Ever Gotesco Mall on Commonwealth Avenue.

The team leader of the QCPD-DSOU group has been rushed to a hospital after getting wounded in the incident.

JUST IN: 2 pulis ng QCPD DSOU ang namatay sa nangyari umanong engkwentro sa pagitan ng mga pulis at PDEA sa Commonwealth Avenue Quezon City; Team leader ng DSOU, isinugod sa ospital matapos masugatan. @gmanews

— James Agustin (@_jamesJA) February 24, 2021

A report by investigators from the QCPD Station Six in the Batasan area said that the policemen conducted a buy-bust operation at the area "with complete coordination and necessary papers."

The report said the QCPD officers later learned that they were transacting with PDEA agents.

"Allegedly during the confrontation, PDEA agents first engaged to shoot towards the PNP personnel leaving no option [for the policemen] to fight back against them resulting in a series of injuries to both parties," the report said.

In an interview on “State of the Nation” Wednesday night, PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon said  the agents were conducting a legitimate buy-bust when the shootout happened.

“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,”  Carreon said.

According to a report on “Saksi,” National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Major General Vicente Danao said that the shootout was a misencounter.

“It’s very unfortunate na nagkaroon ng misencounter. Both sides, it’s a legitimate anti-illegal drugs operation,” Danao said. 

“Kung sino magba-buy-bust at sino ang ka-buy-bust, ‘yon pa ang iimbestigahan natin,” he added.

Traffic near Commonwealth Avenue was temporarily stopped early Wednesday night due to the shootout at the mall.

The QCPD public information office said the encounter was still ongoing around 7 p.m. Agents of the PDEA were also at the scene.

PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva, PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas, and  QCPD chief Police Brigadier General Danilo Macerin were reportedly at the site.

The Metro Manila Development Authority said traffic on the east bound road off Commonwealth Avenue had been temporarily stopped.

"We have secured all access to the mall so all shoppers are safe inside. Our priority right now is to ensure the safety of the employees and the public," Ever Gotesco mall management said in a statement.

"The management is closely coordinating with the PNP," it added.

GMA News' Tina Panganiban-Perez reported that Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will also conduct an investigation into the incident.

"I have ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel investigation on the alleged misencounter this evening between PNP anti-illegal drug operatives and PDEA agents at commonwealth avenue," said Guevarra.

"This is separate and distinct from the probe to be conducted by an ad hoc joint PNP-PDEA board of inquiry earlier announced by PNP Chief Debold Sinas," he added. -with a report from Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB/MDM/BAP, GMA News