Shootout in Quezon City stemmed from ‘set-up’

MANILA, Philippines —  The three suspected drug traffickers killed in a reported shootout in Cubao last Tuesday may have attempted to set up anti-narcotics operatives during the sting, the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group said yesterday.

PDEG director Brig. Gen. Elmer Ragay said initial field reports suggested the suspects tried to mislead officers into believing the incident was a robbery, but subsequent inspection of the recovered packages indicated otherwise.

“Probably the intention was to set up our people, take the items and get the money,” Ragay told reporters during a briefing at Camp Crame.

He said he was receiving real-time updates during the operation, and feedback showed the seized parcels suggested the deal was staged to deceive the police team.

Four people carrying 10 kilos of suspected shabu worth P68 million were targeted in the anti-drug operation in Barangay Socorro on Tuesday. A shootout erupted when the suspects allegedly opened fire at the approaching operatives, wounding a police officer and a confidential informant. Three suspects were killed while another escaped.

Ragay confirmed that the seized packages were concealed in boxes designed to look like brick-sized packs of noodles.

“It would appear that these consisted of 10 bricks that looked like noodles with powdery substances. We are just waiting for the official crime lab results,” Ragay said.

He said their initial findings aligned with the Quezon City Police District’s report, but laboratory confirmation is still pending.

Ragay said operatives had been monitoring the group since August.

He said their behavior and confidence during the operation indicated involvement in illegal drug activities “for quite some time,” with initial intelligence showing that the group operated across Bulacan and as far as Pangasinan. One of the slain suspects reportedly came from Pangasinan.

Asked why the drug transaction took place in Cubao, Ragay said the location was chosen by the suspects. “It’s not within our control. Our insider, who is a civilian, follows where the suspects want to transact.”

He added that drug traffickers might have resorted to new methods due to heightened restrictions on illegal drug movements in Metro Manila.

According to Ragay, an eight-member team directly engaged the suspects, while other personnel secured the perimeter.

He emphasized that standard procedures were followed, including an automatic investigation by the Internal Affairs Service due to the use of firearms.