Lacson seeks in-depth probe on PNP-PDEA 'misencounter'

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an in-depth probe into the "misencounter" between police personnel and Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) to identify possible lapses in coordination between the two agencies.

In an interview with Dobol B TV, Lacson said it is "unacceptable" that the police and PDEA agents may have been "played" by a drug syndicate which led to the deadly shootout at the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City last Wednesday.

"Hindi katanggap-tanggap. Kaya nga sabi ko hindi na dapat maulit iyang pangyayari na yan kasi buhay ng mga operatiba at posibleng buhay ng mga civilians na nandu'n sa area ang maging kapalit," said Lacson, himself a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Dapat talaga malalim 'yung imbestigasyon na gawin ng NBI hindi lamang sa pagfa-file ng criminal and administrative cases against doon sa mga nagkulang kundi para i-amend o i-adjust ang kanilang polisiya tungkol sa koordinasyon tungkol sa paglaban sa droga," he added.

Lacson said the NBI may look at three possible angles in their investigation. The first is whether the two agencies were at the scene to both conduct a buy bust operation.

"Bakit parehong buy bust 'yung kanilang pupuntahan para mag-operate? Kasi kung parehong buy bust, kailangan may impormante at sino 'yung bibilhan, sino 'yung seller na target nila?" he said.

Another possibility is that the two agencies were tipped off by a single informant. 

This, he said, may not necessarily be a single person, but two individuals coming from one syndicate.

"Kapag ganu'n, masama 'yun. Ibig sabihin kulang ng pag-a-assess o pag-vet sa asset, naisahan sila," Lacson said.

"Lumalabas doon na masama talaga 'yung pinaplano o pinlano nung kanilang common informant kung common informant nga, nasa pagsabungin sila para magkabarilan sila," he added.

"Imagine, magre-report sa PDEA para sabihing merong nagbebenta ng droga. Pupunta ka rin ngayon sa PNP para sabihing merong magbebenta doon sa puwesto. Parehong lugar, pareho 'yung circumstances at papupuntahin mo 'yung parehong partido. Malamang sa hindi, magkabarilan," he added.

The NBI should also look at which among the two agencies failed to follow proper coordination, Lacson said.

"Madaling makuha 'yun dahil documented lahat dapat 'yan. Hindi puwedeng verbal lang 'yan. May mga timelines at lahat," he said.

"Madali nang makuha ng NBI 'yun kung nagkulang ang PNP sa pag-coordinate o nagkulang ba 'yung PDEA para i-disseminate sa kanilang tauhan sa ground na merong such coordination," he added.

Lastly, the NBI should also consider looking at who shot and provoked first, Lacson said. 

The incident, which claimed the lives of at least five individuals, may have serious implications in the campaign against illegal drugs of the government, the senator said.

"May setback maski paano kasi kung common ang kanilang asset o informant, o kaya dalawang informant na ang nagmamaniobra e iisang sindikato, nagtatawa ngayon sila at napag-aralan nila kung ano ang kahinaan ng ating laban sa droga, partikular na 'yung sa aspect ng coordination," he said.

"Puwede nilang ulitin ito, iibahin naman nila 'yung method kung paano pagsasabungin o pagsasagupain 'yung PNP at PDEA," he said.

If it is found out that there was indeed a lack of coordination between the two agencies, Lacson said concerned officials must be removed from position and charges should be filed against them.

"Kung maliwanag na talagang may shortcoming o pagkukulang o carelessness doon sa pagve-vet ng informant kaya humantong sa pagkamatay ng limang katao, dapat talaga merong managot," he said.

"Hindi lamang masibak kundi dapat ma-filean ng criminal charges. After all may namatay e," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday ordered the NBI, which is under the Department of Justice, to look into the events that led to the shootout.

The NBI for its part on Saturday said it will conduct a full forensic investigation and 50 of its personnel will focus on the probe.

The Senate and the House of Representatives were supposed to conduct separate probes on the matter, but they were postponed to make way for the NBI investigation. —KG, GMA News