PNP bids goodbye to ‘Tokhang’

FILE: PNP head Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and President Rodrigo Duterte (PNA Photo)

As Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) became the ‘sole agency’ to lead President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa ended ‘Oplan Tokhang’ and ‘Oplan Double Barrel’ on Thursday.

The PNP Chief said that his men are tagged to several crimes, which prompted them to just focus on other crimes and ‘internal cleansing’ now.

“Dito [sa Oplan Tokhang] kami napapasama dahil itong mga pumapatay na ito’y pinagbibintangan na mga pulis o kaya tino-tolerate ng pulis (Oplan Tokhang is what blackens our image because the police are pointed as either the ones behind the killings or the ones who tolerate it),” Dela Rosa told DZMM.

While he said in a press briefing, “Humanda kayo at ibubuhos namin ang galit namin sa inyo, sa riding-in-tandem. Tingnan natin kung hindi kayo maubos (Be ready for we will use our anger to get those riding-in-tandem. Let us see if they will not be gone).”

Duterte on Thursday, during the relaunching of the Malacañang Press Briefing Room explained his decision on PDEA and PNP, by elaborating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The President also cited information on the number of deaths and casualties involving his campaign on drugs.

“So ibigay natin [ang war on drugs] sa PDEA, kasi lesser ang patay eh. Dalawa lang o (let us give the war on drugs to PDEA, since there are lesser deaths. Just two),” the Chief Executive said.

He added that this was a ‘better’ option especially for those with ‘bleeding hearts’ and to the media.

“Kasi ginawa ko na talaga lahat ang magagawa ko, ito na (You see, I already did everything I can. So here). And some of the noted writers say, ‘Act now.’ Ito na po (It is here),” Duterte said.

Oplan Tokhang (Lower Barrel approach) is the police’s door-to-door operation warning drug-users to stop their activities and surrender for rehabilitation.

On the other hand, Project Double Barrel is the campaign against illegal drug trade, in which policemen killed those who resisted arrest or ‘nanlaban.’