Play Video

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the deadly shootout between police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and dissolved the body tasked with carrying out a joint probe, Malacañang announced on Friday, February 26.

“The President decided that only the NBI will investigate the shooting between the police and PDEA in Quezon City,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a video message to reporters on Friday.

“The joint panel formed to investigate, composed of PNP and PDEA, will no longer push through with their investigation,” added Roque.

The PNP and PDEA had earlier announced a joint probe of the bloody altercation that left 4 people – two from each agency – dead. The two law enforcement agencies would thus be investigating their own personnel.

The NBI, meanwhile, is a separate agency under the Department of Justice, in charge of handling high-profile cases.

“This is to ensure impartiality on the Quezon City shootout incident,” said Roque.

He said it was the legal mandate of the NBI to investigate “particularly where men in uniform are involved to ensure impartiality.”

NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said on Friday, “We thank the President and the DOJ Secretary of Justice for their complete trust upon the NBI. We will stand to the challenge as we always do.”

He added: “There is no question that with NBI Director Eric Distor at the helm of the Bureau, we will be able to do an impartial investigation into the incident. The Director has considered this a priority case. This will be handled by NBI NCR with support from other divisions.”

Malacañang had earlier said Duterte was saddened by news of the shootout and vowed an impartial probe.

Four people were killed in the shootout near Ever Gotesco mall – two policemen, one PDEA agent, and one PDEA informant. The incident is believed to be a bungled drug operation that may have involved the illegal practice of “sell bust,” or law enforcers pretending to be drug peddlers in order to catch buyers.

Ten cops and 7 PDEA agents have been restricted to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) base in Camp Crame, Quezon City. The CIDG is leading the joint investigation which the President has just ordered suspended. – Rappler.com