Abante: PNP-PDEA shootout probe should identify who is at fault

“Who is at fault?”

This, according to House Deputy Speaker and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante Jr. should be answered in the investigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the shootout involving agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Kinakailangan lang naman sa imbestigasyon e makita nila, sino ba ang nauna o who is at fault? ‘Yun ang gustong malaman ng taumbayan,” Abante said.

Speaking to reporters during the Ugnayan sa Batasan news forum, the former House minority leader also urged the leadership of the PNP and PDEA to take a “hard, long look” at the conduct of their operations and identify lapses and other issues that may occur in their anti-drug operations.

“Kinakailangan maisip po nila ito, they should be waging a war on drugs, not a war on each other,” Abante pointed out.

Abante discounted the possibility that a “friendly-fire” happened in the incident where two PNP members, one PDEA agent, and one PDEA informant were killed.

“Palagay ko everybody, halos lahat ng Filipino would even think na meron ditong accountability, either the police or the PDEA,” Abante said.

Abante said it would be futile to investigate if nobody will be held accountable.

“Kung ito ay ma-find out ng NBI na hindi misencounter ito, kinakailangan malaman kung sino talaga ang dapat managot,” he said.