The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Dumaguete City has assured that it will only visit the homes of drug personalities based on a validated list from higher headquarters under the “reloaded” Oplan Tokhang.
Supt. Jonathan Pineda, the police chief of Dumaguete City, gave the assurance Thursday as he disclosed that they have not yet officially re-launched Tokhang, the government’s anti-drug campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in the country.
According to Supt. Pineda, only those in a validated list coming from the Directorate of Intelligence of the PNP national headquarters will be visited in their homes to convince them to stop their illegal drug activities and voluntarily surrender.
Pineda said they have forwarded a list to the Directorate of Intelligence for validation while previous watch lists of drug personalities will also be reviewed.
Tokhang (coined from the Cebuano words Toktok or to knock and Hangyo or to ask/request) became controversial following the deaths of persons who police said were shot during such police operation for “resisting arrest”.
In the revised Tokhang, only select police personnel will be assigned to carry this out.
According to Supt. Pineda, he has already identified at least six of his men for this, but he is still awaiting the return of SPO3 Orlando Gonzaga who is undergoing a two-week seminar at the Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas) on Tokhang.
The police chief also explained that the new policy now is that other stakeholders, such as from the academe, religious sector, and/or the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC), be present during the house-to-house Tokhang campaign.
This is to erase doubts cast on the police in the implementation of Tokhang, he said.
In the meantime, what the city police is doing is to conduct dialogues in schools, passenger terminals, and even talk to parents of suspected drug personalities on the illegal drugs campaign.
Tokhang will be fully implemented by next week upon the return of SPO3 Gonzaga, the police chief disclosed. (JFP/PNA)
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