PDEA, PNP craft rules for drug stings

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Philippine National Police have crafted unified guidelines that will be followed by PDEA and PNP units to prevent “misencounters” during anti-narcotics operations.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the two agencies held a meeting at Camp Crame where officials discussed the need for better communication and coordination procedures in conducting anti-drug operations in specific areas.

On May 14, a standoff almost led to a shootout between operatives of the PNP and PDEA during a sting in Quezon City.

Reports said the incident happened at the parking lot of a shopping mall in Barangay Greater Lagro.

PDEA agents reportedly ordered police officers to lay down their guns, prompting operatives from nearby police stations to respond to the scene for backup.

“Both the PNP and PDEA launched an operation in the area. They appeared there and both parties did not identify each other as operatives. The incident could have resulted in a shootout. But no crime was committed,” Eleazar said at a press briefing yesterday.

“The problem is there was no coordination between the two agencies,” he added.

Eleazar said drug rings are taking advantage of the miscommunication between the PNP and PDEA.

“Members of drug groups are taking advantage of the gaps in the rules of procedures on coordination and inter-operations between the law enforcement agencies,” the PNP chief said.

“Together with the PDEA, we are going to focus on this to avoid shortcomings in coordination and communication,” Eleazar added.

Prior to the May 14 incident, members of the Quezon City Police District and PDEA agents were involved in a shootout that left three law enforcers and a PDEA informant dead along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Feb. 24.