QC cop ordered arrested over PNP-PDEA misencounter

The Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 43 has issued a warrant of arrest to one of the policemen involved in the ‘misencounter’ between personnel of Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) last year.

According to a report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, Police Corporal Paul Christian Gandeza, an officer of QCPD Station 6, was charged with direct assault for deliberately attacking PDEA agent Raymart Bayote.

Bayote sustained physical injury and had to be confined in a hospital.

In February 2021, PNP officers and PDEA personnel engaged in a shootout in front of a fast food chain along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City with both saying they were conducting anti-drug operations.

This resulted in the death of two cops, one PDEA agent and one informant.

The Department of Justice earlier said that homicide charges will be filed against the PDEA agents and direct assault charges will be lodged against the PNP officers.

Those who will be facing homicide charges are PDEA agents Khee Maricar Rodas, Jelou Satiniaman, and Jeffrey Baguidudol over the death of Police Corporal Eric Elvin Gerado.

“After evaluation of the evidence, the Panel of Prosecutors found sufficient evidence to charge respondents PDEA agents Rodas, Baguidudol, and Satiniaman for homicide,” the DOJ said.—Mel Matthew Doctor/LDF, GMA News