Setback in the anti-drug campaign
The decision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) hierarchy to suspend “Operation Tokhang” or the anti-illegal drugs operation could result in a temporary setback in the Duterte’s administration war on drugs. The war has gained momentum with the deaths and arrests of several drugs personalities. Billions of pesos-worth of drugs, specially shabu, have been seized.
The move came on the heels of the involvement of some police scalawags in “tokhang-for-ransom” activities. Some policemen from the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group were accused of abducting Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo in the guise of an anti-drug operation. But it was a kidnapping with the policemen demanding ransom from the family. Despite payment of initial ransom, the foreigner was killed. Worse, the murder happened inside Camp Crame, the PNP national headquarters.
The PNP is set to cleanse its ranks of scalawags before resuming its anti-drug operations. It will create a counterintelligence group to run after those with criminal records in the police organization. It will be a “good cops versus bad cops” drive. Dela Rosa’s order is to kill the scalawags if they fight. Aw, mag-unay ni silang mga pulis.
In the meantime, those involved in the illegal drugs trade, from the druglords to level one, two and three pushers will be merry.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), under Section 82 of Republic Act 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002, is mandated to carry out the provisions of the law and is responsible for the “efficient and effective” drive against “dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential and chemical.”
But we know for a fact that the PDEA has limited manpower and resources. The agency only has regional and provincial offices. In region 7, the agency has only 43 agents including officers. That is why they only conduct large-scale operations. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is in the same predicament with PDEA.
Meanwhile the police, because of their vast resources and manpower, can penetrate even to the grass roots level. Reports say, though, that the military will augment PDEA. But the military has different training and orientation. They are not trained to do law enforcement. They are combatants.
In view of the directive to temporary freeze the drive against illegal drugs, the PNP should draw the parameters. Can policemen no longer conduct an operation against illegal drugs, like serving search warrants and engaging in buy bust operations? Kung maka-akto sila og pushers nga namalig
ya on the act, dili na sila makadakop? Mangyugpos na lang ba ang mga pulis?
If there are arrest made in connection with illegal drugs, would this be considered illegal because the police are no longer allowed to do so? Is the President’s order “stripping the police of its power to enforce the anti-drug law” clear? Maayo gyud ning klarohon da. Kung mao ning kalakiha, ang mga pulis hayahay pa sa pulis sa Mandaue unya magpista sad ang mga drug personalities.