QCPD, PDEA figure in standoff

MANILA, Philippines — Operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) almost figured in another shootout in Quezon City yesterday afternoon.

The standoff between officers of the two law enforcement agencies occurred at the parking lot of a shopping mall in Barangay Greater Lagro at around 3 p.m., a police official said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said anti-narcotics officers from the Novaliches police station were about to stage a drug bust when PDEA operatives appeared.

QCPD director Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra did not reply when sought for comment.

PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon, for his part, told reporters in a Viber message they are still waiting  for an official report on the incident.

The source said the standoff ensued when the PDEA agents ordered the undercover police officers to lay down their firearms.

Police officers from other stations responded to the scene and backed up the undercover police officers.

“Hindi namin binigay mga tao namin. Pinalibutan  namin sila (We did not give up our men. We surrounded them),” the source said in a phone interview.

According to the source, the PDEA operatives were not from the National Capital Region but from the agency’s Calabarzon field unit.

The source said the PDEA informant was about to have a transaction with a police informant.

Tension between the two groups eased when both sides were able to confirm they are from government law enforcement units.

In February, two QCPD officers, a PDEA agent and an informant were killed in a shootout along Commonwealth Avenue.