“Oplan Tokhang” resumes today
A full blast operation is expected as the Philippine National Police (PNP) resumes its “Oplan Tokhang” starting today, said Supt. Julian Entoma, chief of the Regional Operations Planning Division of Police Regional Office (PRO) -7.
Entoma said the operation will target the identified drug personalities based on the list submitted by the various Barangay AntiDrug Abuse Council (BADAC). He said each Tokhang Team will be composed of four to five policemen, who are not members of the Drug Enforcement Unit.
“Ang Tokhang Team dili mag-dala og drug enforcement unit unlike sa una, inig ka gabii kung modagan ang subject mosulod na dayon ang DEU. Karon lahi na siya, ug bayolente or modagan gyod ang subject, ato lang na pasagdan ug i-refer lang nato sa atong drug enforcement unit,” said Entoma.
He said that members of the Tokhang Team are not allowed to go inside the house of their subject to avoid speculations from the public. Tokhang operations are also limited on weekdays and shall be done only at daytime.
The PNP was criticized earlier because of its Oplan Tokhang, which allegedly led to several human rights abuses.
Entoma reminded all members of the Tokhang Team that they are not allowed to force suspected drug personalities to surrender.
He said suspected drug personalities may surrender either at the police station or at the barangay hall.
“Ang uban man gud kay maulaw dili moadto sa station, mao na nga puwede na sila sa ilang mga barangay hall," Entoma said.
"Unlike sa una og naay mo-surrender among ingnon nga balik lang ugma kay daghan pa mi og gi-document, adto lang sa barangay hall kay para kunwari nga aduna silay tuyo sa kapitan. Dili na nga ato pa gyung pugson sa pagpaadto sa police station,” Entoma added.
He encouraged suspected drug personalities to voluntarily surrender.
“Sa drug personalities nga kung naay moanha sa ilang panimalay mas maayo nga mo-submit sila sa balaod kay mao na ang among tumong ang pagpa-surrender nila dili kay ipapriso sila or operate-an sila,” Entoma said.