The two officers, from the Philippine National Police (PNP), faced agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Quezon City on Wednesday evening. Three PDEA officers were also injured in the confrontation and were hospitalized.
Police from the Quezon City Police District Special Operations Department were conducting an operation to buy up drugs in a fast food chain parking lot when they found out they were dealing with PDEA agents. The shootout took place shortly afterwards; the exact circumstances of the shooting are not yet clear.
Authorities have launched parallel investigations through both a joint PNP-PDEA investigation and an investigation by the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation.
“What is clear now … the PDEA Special Enforcement Services were in the area for a legitimation operation,” said PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon, PNA reported.
“We leave it to the Joint Commission of Inquiry. We will see the documents tomorrow. For now, our priority is to take care of our injured personnel,” said Carreon.
PNP spokesperson Brig. General Ildebrandi Usana told PNA that the incident, “while serious, will in no way affect the ongoing operational relationship and coordination they have long strengthened in the fight against illegal drugs.”
“In the interest of finding out the truth behind the incident, a joint PNP-PDEA committee of inquiry will be formed to determine what happened and who should be held accountable,” Usana said.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has led a ‘war on drugs’ in the country since taking office in 2016, encouraging crackdowns on drug dealers and addicts. According to police reports and human rights organizations, thousands have been killed in the often violent campaign.