The two officers, from the Philippine National Police (PNP), clashed with agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Quezon City on Wednesday night. Three PDEA agents were also injured in the confrontation and hospitalized.
Police in the Quezon City Police District Special Operations Unit were conducting a drug purchase operation in a fast-food chain parking lot when they learned they were trading with PDEA agents. The shootings took place shortly thereafter; the exact circumstances of the shooting are not yet clear.
Authorities launched parallel investigations through both a joint PNP-PDEA investigation and an investigation by the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation.
“From now on, what is clear … The special services of the PDEA enforcement were in the area with a legitimation operation,” said PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon, PNA reported.
“We will leave it to the joint commission of inquiry. We will see the documents tomorrow. For now, our priority is to assist the injured staff,” Carreon said.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gender. Ildebrandi Usana told PNA that the incident, “although serious, will not affect in any way the ongoing operational relationship and coordination that they have long confirmed in the fight against illegal drugs.”
“In the interest of determining the truth behind the incident, a joint PNP-PDEA commission of inquiry will be formed to determine what happened and who should be held accountable,” Usana said.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been waging a “war on drugs” in the country since coming to power in 2016, encouraging severe repression of drug traffickers and addicts. The often violent campaign left thousands dead, according to police and human rights groups.