Raps awaited in Narc man’s slay

Six days after the fatal shootout inside the Northern Police District’s (NPD) anti-drug unit office that resulted in the death of an anti-narcotics agent, formal charges against those involved in the incident are yet to be filed.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), officially tasked by the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame to handle the investigation on the "hostage-taking incident" which resulted in the death of PO3 Eduardo Gaddi, 32, is still in the process of gathering information.

The CIDG started its official inquiry Friday after NPD director Senior Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., turned over to the CIDG the investigation to avoid perception of a cover-up. Franco also dissolved the Drug Enforcement Group (DEG).

The CIDG assured yesterday the family of Gaddi of an impartial probe and the filing of proper charges against those involved in the bloody shootout inside the NPD-DEG office on Langaray street in Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City.

At around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, a commotion followed by several gunshots was heard inside the NPD-DEG office while some of the anti-drug unit operatives were reportedly having a drinking bout, police sources said.

According to DEG operatives, Gaddi, who was transferred to the Valenzuela City police the day before the incident by his superior, Superintendent Reynaldo Orante, resented it and went to their office to confront his chief.

Gaddi allegedly took Orante hostage after engaging him in a heated verbal tussle and shot him once hitting the DEG chief slightly in the neck.

Three other DEG operatives — SPO4 Jorge Tabayag, Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, and SPO3 Manolito Manalo — came to their chief’s aid and reportedly shot it out with Gaddi. Gaddi died on the spot while Tabayag was wounded in the hand. – Pete Laude