PDEG: Drug suspects in fatal QC shootout tried to swindle cops in buy-bust op

The four drug suspects in the shootout in Quezon City on Tuesday tried to swindle the undercover cops who were purchasing suspected shabu from them during a buy-bust operation, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) said.

PDEG spokesperson Police Lieutenant Marlon Sy said Wednesday the suspects were able to figure out that they were transacting with authorities. Due to this, they planned to take the payment without giving the illegal drugs and flee.

“Ang purpose po nila parang i-estafa-hin nila. Ngayon 'yung isang leader po nila 'yung pumutok. Doon nagkaroon ng insidente, nag-shooting,” Sy said at a press briefing.

(Their purpose seems to be to fool the police officers. Now, their leader is the one who first fired a shot. The encounter started from there.)

The buy-bust operation involved 10 kilograms of suspected shabu worth around P68 million, according to Sy.

Three of the four suspects were killed in the encounter including their possible leader alias Dan. Authorities are looking into the identity of one of the deceased suspects as he has resemblance to a person involved in another crime group.

Two were also hurt in the shootout including a PDEG personnel and an informant.

There were CCTV and body camera footage of the incident and authorities are now in the process of obtaining them, according to Sy.

Despite the deaths in the operation, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said that the police organization remains committed to keep their operations “bloodless.”

“Mananatili po tayong bloodless ang ating operations. Ngunit kapag na-endanger naman po ang buhay, ang security ng ating mga miyembro ay hindi naman natin hahayaan na mamatay ang ating officers,” Tuaño said.

(Our operations will remain bloodless. But when the lives and security of our members are endangered, we will not let our officers die.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News