Senate sets probes of PDEA-PNP shootout

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate inquiry into the deadly shootout between police and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Quezon City last month will push through tomorrow.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s committee on public order and dangerous drugs will conduct the public hearing at 9 a.m. at the Senators Laurel and Pecson Rooms of the Senate in Pasay City.

Although invited to the hearing, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas is not expected to attend because he tested positive for COVID-19. Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, officer-in-charge of the PNP, will represent him.

Dela Rosa’s committee was supposed to conduct the inquiry on March 2, but moved its date in deference to President Duterte’s instruction to give the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) leeway to probe the matter.

The senator defended the postponement of the Senate inquiry, saying justice takes precedence over the need to amend the policies on law enforcement.

He said the President’s request for the NBI to complete its investigation first was valid because it was in the interest of seeking justice for the fatalities.

The shootout that transpired at a mall on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City last Feb. 24 resulted in the death of five people – including two Quezon City Police District (QCPD) operatives, a PDEA agent and an informant. It remains unclear if the fifth fatality was with the PDEA or the QCPD.

Dela Rosa said his panel’s investigation, in aid of legislation, is based on Senate Resolutions No. 662 filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and No. 667 filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros. He said Senate Bill No. 3, titled “Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority Act” and authored by Sotto, is also on the agenda.

Other resource persons invited from the PNP to tomorrow’s public hearing are B/Gen. Danilo Pepino Macerin (QCPD director), B/Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. (National Capital Regional Police Office director), M/Gen. Alfred Corpus, M/Gen. Marni Marcos Jr., M/Gen. Dennis Agustin, PBGen. Albert Ferro, the policemen involved in the shootout, leaders of the QCPD responding team and the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) team that investigated the scene.

From the PDEA, invited to the hearing are director general Wilkins Villanueva, deputy director general for operations Gregorio Pimentel, Intelligence and Investigation Service director Edgar Jubay, Special Enforcement Service officer-in-charge Rogelito Daculla, agents involved in the incident and leaders of the team that responded to the area of the shootout.

NBI Director Eric Distor was also invited to the Senate inquiry.

Villanueva has expressed confidence the PDEA would be vindicated once the results of the NBI probe are released.

Speaking at the opening of the K9 Handlers Basic Course in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, the PDEA chief said: “I promise all of you in the PDEA that after this investigation, we’ll turn out to be on the side that’s right and true.” – Emmanuel Tupas