TIWALA ang pamunuan ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency sa justice system na umiiral sa bansa at iginagalang nila ang inilabas na resolusyon ng National Prosecution Service kaugnay sa naganap na

‘misencounter’ sa pagitan ng kanilang mga ahente at mga tauhan ng PNP-Central Police District Quezon City Police.

Subalit nanindigan ang PDEA na ang napatay na tauhang si PDEA agent Rankin Bulintao Gano ay nasawi ‘in line of duty’ kasama ang kanilang confidential informant at ang Drug Enforcement Officers na kasama sa operasyon ay binaril, dinisarmahan at sumailalim sa physical na pananakit.

Sinabi ng PDEA Spokesperson Derrick Arnold Carreon, naninindigan ang ahensiya sa aksiyon ng kanilang Drug Enforcement Officers (DEO) noong Pebrero 24, 2021.

Ayon sa statement na inilabas ni Director Carreon, “Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency respects the authority and competence of the National Prosecution Service in the conduct of the preliminary investigation. However, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency finds that much is to be desired upon learning of the National Prosecution Service’s resolution.”

“Even with the death and injuries sustained by both the PDEA and the PNP, the agency remains steadfast that facts, indisputable circumstances, electronic evidence in the form of CCTV footages, jurisprudence and other pieces of evidence sufficiently show the culpability and accountability of the police commissioned and non-commissioned officers involved in the incident.”

Tinitiyak din ng PDEA na gagamitin nila ang lahat ng legal na remedyo upang matulungan at madepensahan ang kanilang mga tauhan na pinasasampahan ng kasong kriminal ng National Prosecution Service (NPS) ng Department of Justice (DOJ) matapos na masangkot sa umano’y ‘misencounter’ sa mga tauhan ng Quezon City Police District (QCPD) noong nakaraang taon.

Noong May 19, inihayag ng Department of Justice (DOJ) na maghahain sila ng kaso laban sa tatlong  PDEA agents at apat na  police officers kaugnay sa nasabing  misencounter.

“In light of this resolution and after the conduct of its own internal investigation, the PDEA unequivocally stands behind the actions of its DEOs, that the actions of the PDEA agents in that fateful afternoon embody the agency’s brand of professionalism and excellence,” ayon kay Carreon.

Aniya, nirerespeto ng PDEA ang awtoridad at competence ng NPS sa pagsasagawa ng preliminary investigation ngunit sinabing, “the PDEA finds that much is to be desired upon learning of the National Prosecution Service’s Resolution.”

Una rito, pinakakasuhan ng DOJ prosecution panel ang PDEA officers na sina Khee Maricar Rodas, Jeffrey Baguidudol at Jelou Santiniaman dahil sa pagkamatay ni Corporal Eric Garado ng QCPD.

Bukod sa kanila, inirekomenda rin ang paghahain ng direct assault charges laban sa police officers na sina Maj. Sandie Caparroso, Lt. Honey Besas, P/SMS. Melvin Merida at Cpl. Paul Christian Gandez dahil sa panggugulpi sa apat na back-up PDEA agents. (JESSE KABEL)