‘Bato’ vows less bloody campaign
As much as possible, the Philippine National Police (PNP) would want a more organized anti-illegal drugs operations with the official return of its intensified war on drugs yesterday. However, no less than the country's top cop admitted he cannot promise it would be bloodless.
PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said he was elated that the return of the PNP's war on drugs coincided with their 27th founding anniversary, adding he has high hopes the rejuvenated Oplan Tokhang, now being implemented with new rules and guidelines, will be less bloody.
"The PNP reassume the crucial role in the government’s antidrug campaign in support of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Project Double Barrel, with all the notable accomplishments under its name, is back in business, including the Oplan Tokhang operations," Dela Rosa said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
However, he maintained that the result of the operations are often dependent to the reaction of their target drug personalities, so if it turned out bloody then the suspects must have 'resisted' – a thing which is already beyond their control.
"Alam niyo naman na 'iyang dugo na 'yan, dependent sa action ng mga drug personalities. Kung pwede lang natin susian 'yung mga utak ng mga drug personalities na 'Please, huwag sana kayo maging violent. Huwag sana kayo lumaban para walang dugo na dumanak sa aming anti-drug operations,' eh maganda sana pero very volatile ang situation sa ground,” he said.
"That's why I cannot give you 100 percent or a full proof na anti-drug campaign na maging bloodless. I cannot give you. Bigyan niyo ako ng kuwan, kung sino mang commander na pwedeng gawin iyan na walang mangyaring mamamatay, and I'm willing to give up my post. That's impossible," he added.
With the issuance of the new supplemental guidelines and policies, Dela Rosa, however, vowed they would try to at least prevent rogue cops from using the antiillegal drug operations, especially Oplan Tokhang, for their own benefit.
He admitted that the lack of strict supervision by the unit commanders was the major mistake during the previous anti-illegal drug operations.
"Nagkukulang ‘yung unit commanders sa pag-supervise kaya may mga rogue policemen na kumakatok, ginagamit yung Oplan Tokhang for their extortion activities,” he said.
"But now, we can expect consistency dahil ito sa ating pinapairal na command responsibility. Close supervision at all levels of command iyon ang ating ipapairal. Strict sanctions will follow," he assured.
Under the supplemental guidelines, a one-strike policy will be implemented which means that a precinct commander will be relieved if any member of his/her Tokhang team would fail to follow the rules.
Likewise, a chief of police, provincial director, and regional director would be relieved if two of their precinct commanders, chief of police and provincial or city directors, respectively, would fail to comply with the guidelines.
Even though there is no 100 percent guarantee the Oplan Tokhang will not be bloody, Dela Rosa said they will do everything they can to avoid engaging hostile drug suspects, even if it means 'snubbing' them.
The key to the success of the relaunched Oplan Tokhang, according to Dela Rosa, is the cooperation of drug personalities with the authorities.