'TOKHANG' IS ABOUT HOPE
Unarmed cops visit homes of suspected drug users
Police officials are hoping that the resumption of “Oplan Tokhang” will be seen by drug users as a symbol of hope and a chance to change.
Police officials are hoping that the resumption of “Oplan Tokhang” will be seen by drug users as a symbol of hope and a chance to change.
In Manila, city police spokesperson Erwin Margarejo said that people used to view Tokhang as an anti-illegal drugs operation, but he said it is actually a chance to change.
“Nagkaron dati ng misconception na kapag Tokhang, anti-illegal drugs operation. But its concept is actually that we are giving them the chance para magbago. It is a symbol of hope na this is the chance we are giving you. The government will rehabilitate you and give you the necessary support that you need,” Margarejo said.
Those who will cooperate, he said, will be placed under the rehabilitation program of each station.
However, if they still won’t change, that is when the police will be forced to launch an anti-illegal drug operation against them.
Under Manila Police District (MPD), Stations 1, 7, 10, and 11 conducted Tokhang to ask those involved in the anti-illegal drugs trade to surrender yesterday.
“We are hoping that the new concept of Tokhang will be successful, considering that drug personalities are given the time to reflect and stop their illegal drug activities,” he said.
In Marikina City, rosaries and bibles were given to alleged drug personalities targeted in the relaunch of Tokhang in an effort to eliminate misconceptions about the anti-drug operation, said Marikina City police chief Senior Supt. Roger Quesada.
Since the PNP waged the war against illegal drugs after President Duterte was sworn into office, Oplan Tokhang has been viewed as an ultimate death sentence by many, said Quesada.
That is what the distribution of the bible and rosary, provided by the Marikina City Police Station, aims to change.
"Kasi ang instruction ng ating district director, si Police Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Biay, na pagkausap niyo sa kanila, abutan niyo ng bibliya saka rosaryo," said Quesada.
Asked why it has to be a bible and a rosary, Quesada said that Oplan Tokhang has been demonized for far too long despite its noble intentions.
"Ang pagkakaintindi kasi ng mga tao no'ng una, ayun na rin kasi ang naibabalita sa media, na 'yong tokhang, may kaakibat na patayan. Ayun na tuloy ang nasa isipan ng mga tao kahit maganda naman kasi talaga ang purpose ng tokhang," Quesada lamented.
Tokhang comes from two Visayan terms "toktok" (knock) and "hangyo" (plead), and according to Quesada, that is what his unarmed police would exactly do.
"Katukin lang naman natin at kausapin na magbago na, at ipaalam sa kanila na ang purpose ng tokhang ay hikayatin sila na magbago," Quesada explained.
Quesada promised that they will be patient in reminding alleged drug personalities to stop pushing and using illegal substances, but that if they do not listen and continue doing such illegal activities, arrest will come next.