Duterte sad, concerned over shootout between police, PDEA agents

President Rodrigo Duterte was concerned about the fatal shootout between police officers and agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday, his spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday.

At a press conference, Roque  said the President has promised that justice will be served following the incident that claimed the lives of at least three individuals.

"The President, of course, expressed both sadness and concern bakit nangyari nga ito na kapwa tao ng gobyerno ay nagkaputukan," Roque said.

"Ang in-assure niya, gaya ng nangyari sa Sulu, ay we will get to the bottom of this incident, magkakaroon po ng partial investigation at justice will be done," he added.

Two of the fatalities in the alleged misencounter along Commonwealth Avenue were police officers, National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Major General Vicente Danao said.

The body of the third fatality was seen being brought out of a white van reportedly belonging to PDEA agents past 1 a.m. Thursday.

The PNP and PDEA both claimed that their respective anti-illegal drugs operations in the area were legitimate. A joint inquiry will be done to determine why the operations resulted in a shootout.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group would be the lead investigating body on the incident.—AOL, GMA News