Misencounter

Misencounter. How many times have we heard that before from the police, the military, and now from PDEA? The whole country is already aware of the "misencounter" between the QCPD and PDEA on Commonwealth Avenue last Wednesday. Filipinos just cannot help but rubberneck and watch from the sidelines as the shootout was unfolding. Amateur videos have now flooded social media. When the shooting ended, two policemen were first confirmed dead. But as of this writing, a PDEA agent and an informant have also died. Four dead in a bloody misencounter. What happened?

Neither the PNP nor PDEA could explain why law enforcers ended up shooting at each other. Both groups thought they were dealing with illegal drug pushers in a supposed buy-bust operation. Initial reports seem to suggest someone pulling out a gun that started the shooting. But why didn't someone introduce themselves immediately which could have ended the gunfight? Both claim their respective operations as "duly-coordinated". So who made the mistake? Unfortunately, history show shootings often preceding confirmations. We have to mention the combined intelligence fund of the PNP and PDEA at more than a billion pesos. Is that merely a fund with little or no intelligence? The possibility of both groups being played or toyed with by a drug syndicate's planted informant does not bode well for intelligence.

The PNP and PDEA planned to conduct a joint investigation into the misencounter and will hold those at fault accountable. But do we think the PNP or PDEA will admit wrongdoing on the part of their men especially when some of their comrades were killed? President Duterte has wisely stepped in and ordered only the NBI will investigate the incident. Even the planned hearings by the Senate and the House have been suspended. Hopefully, all these to give the NBI an objective, free hand in the investigation. I hope all those amateur videos are used to help determine the cause and even the sequence of events. Why the shootout lasted that long is another question. I'm sure everyone wants to know what happened. But it is also frightening to think that law enforcement agents are prone to making deadly mistakes. Fortunately, no civilians were killed but the possibility always exists. Why the "duly-coordinated operation" was conducted in a public place full of civilians is another question. One would think if the exchange of drugs was expected it would be away from so many prying eyes. So many more questions than answers. We eagerly await the non-partisan findings of the NBI