Bloodless Oplan TOKHANG IS fiRST 4 DAYS

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has yet to record any casualties since it resumed the implementation of Oplan Tokhang on January 29.

Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, PNP spokesperson, said Oplan Tokhang continues to be bloodless as promised.

Under the PNP’s intensified Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded, however, 46 suspected drug personalities were killed during the conduct of 3,253 antiillegal drugs operations from December 5, 2017 to February 1, 2018. Police arrested 4,968 high-value targets.

According to the records of the Directorate for Operations (DO), a total of 2,127 Tokhang activities were conducted nationwide from January 29 to February 1, resulting in the surrender of 821 suspected drug personalities.

Police Regional Office 10 based in Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao had the most number of surrenderers at 424 for the period, followed by Police Regional Office 9 in Zamboanga City with 318 surrenderers.

In October 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte stripped the police of its lead role in the government’s war on drugs following the implication of some policemen in illegal activities and killings.

The PNP rejoined the war on drugs in December as ordered by Duterte.

But resumption of Oplan Tokhang was delayed as the police had to revise its operational guidelines after PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa admitted that Tokhang is being used by some erring policemen as cover for extortion and other illegal activities.

Under Oplan Tokhang, police visit the houses of drug personalities on their drugs watchlist and encourage them to stop their illegal drugs involvement, surrender to the government and avail of its recovery program.

Oplan Tokhang, however, has been associated with killings after several drug personalities were slain during the conduct of such operations. Police reported that more than 3,000 individuals have been killed since the war on drugs was launched by the Duterte government in 2016. Critics believe the actual number is higher.

Dela Rosa assured that with the revised guidelines, the crackdown on illegal drugs will be less bloody. SunStar Philippines

(PNA) Former Associate Justice Vicente Mendoza stresses a point at the public hearing on the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution presided by Senator Francis Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of...