Details

Details of the bloody "misencounter” between the PNP and PDEA last week are slowly emerging. CCTV video seems to show PDEA agents already identifying themselves during a lull in the shooting but the QCPD policemen continued to shoot at them. Someone was seen wearing his ID during the shooting.

Most recently, PDEA agents said they were beaten up by policemen for almost half an hour even after they had already given up. They were even taken to a parking lot where they were beaten up even more. Many sustained head wounds from being pistol-whipped aside from several cuts and bruises. Five were hospitalized and some had to undergo surgery. NBI investigators could not get proper statements from the agents because some suffered from severe trauma and fear. They are being offered trauma assessment by the NBI. I hope they recover so that they can give their full account of the incident. If some witnessed the events after the gunfire they should speak up as well, if they are brave enough. The NBI needs all the help to find out what happened.

The PNP is true to form. Even with the gunfight over and PDEA agents introducing themselves they still wanted to get their kicks in. Violence is just ingrained in most police officers. I wonder what the explanation of the PNP leadership would be on this revelation? I can understand some who were still awash with adrenaline and wanting some sort of release especially after realizing some of their comrades were killed. But some died on the PDEA side as well. I don't think there was a need for the QCPD to beat up the PDEA agents after they gave up and introduced themselves. They should have confirmed their identities. So much for inter-agency camaraderie.

Hopefully, the NBI will discover more details as the agents recover. This is not a small incident. Eleven QCPD officers are in restrictive custody. At least they are not in the hospital with head wounds and bruises, not to mention mental anguish because of the beatings. They got the short end of the stick. Many speculations are already emerging on social media as to why there was a shooting. I believe these should all stop and give the investigation a chance to ferret out the truth. What we do not want to see is a cover-up of any of the two groups. Both leaderships of the PNP and the PDEA have sworn to make those culpable accountable. Let's hope so. Otherwise, all those speculations making the rounds on the internet will gain traction.