PNP-PDEA shootout fatalities now 4

A narcotics agent and an informant were also killed in the shootout between the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Wednesday, PDEA chief Wilkins Villanueva said Thursday.

This brings the number of fatalities to four — two policemen, a PDEA agent and an informant.

An alleged misencounter involving the police and narcotics agents took place at the parking lot of a fastfood restaurant along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, Villanueva said the three PDEA agents who were critically injured are already in stable condition.

“Out of danger na ang tatlo,” he said in a press conference.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas also said one cop was also wounded in the incident.

A joint PNP-PDEA board of inquiry will be established to investigate the incident.

Earlier, PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said the incident would in no way affect the operational relationship between the two agencies.

Meanwhile, PDEA also insisted that their agents were on a legitimate buy-bust at the mall.

PDEA spokesperson Derrick Careon said the PDEA agents had proper documents supporting a buy-bust operation.—LDF, GMA News