NCRPO chief says Commonwealth shootout a misencounter

National Capital Region Police Office chief Major General Vicente Danao, Jr. on Wednesday said the shootout that occurred at the Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth in Quezon City wherein at least two policemen were killed was a case of a misencounter.

According to a report on “Saksi,” Danao confirmed that the shootout between members of the Quezon City Police District Special Operations Unit and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents was a misencounter.

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

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

A joint board of inquiry composed of personnel from the PNP and PDEA will be established.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas appointed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as the lead investigating body, while Danao has been designated as the spokesperson.

“The PNP and PDEA both agree and assure the public that the incident, while serious, will in no way affect the continuing operational relationship and coordinations they have long firmed up in the fight against illegal drugs,” the PNP said.

Following the incident, PDEA insisted that their agents were on a legitimate buy-bust operation conducted at the mall.

“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. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News