Palace hopes for ‘less controversial’ return of Tokhang

FILE: Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, Jr. (PCOO Photo)

As the Philippine National Police (PNP) returns to the drug operation scenes on Monday, Malacañang expressed hope for a “less controversial” Oplan Tokhang.

“We are certainly hoping it will be less controversial because controversy will only blur the real intentions behind Tokhang which is really the fight against dangerous drugs,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque stressed in a news conference on January 29.

“The PNP has said they want the ‘Tokhang’ operations to be less blood. We are hoping it will be and we welcome the statement of the PNP as reaffirming their commitment to the new rule of law,” he added.

Signed last week by PNP Chief Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the police are now following new guidelines for its Oplan Double Barrel.

Written in the new guidelines, “The Tokhang team shall be joined by at least one representative from any concerned ADAC (anti-drug abuse council), at least one representative from PNP HRAO (Human Rights Affairs Office) or any Human Rights Advocate.”

(Read: Tokhang returns; requires human rights advocate in ops)

However, dela Rosa also said that he thinks a bloodless war on drugs is impossible.

(Read: Dela Rosa on bloodless drug war: That’s impossible)

“Bigyan n’yo ako ng kung sino pwede gawin yan, sinong commander ang pwede gumawa n’yan at I am willing to give up my post kung masabi n’yo merong tao d’yan na pwedeng or maging successful tayo sa anti-drug na walang mamatay  (Tell me who can do that, who is the commander that can do that and I am willing to give up my post if you can tell me that there is a person who can make it or who can be successful in doing the operation without anyone getting killed). That’s impossible,” dela Rosa said in a press briefing on Monday.

In October 12 last year, PNP stopped its anti-illegal drug operations as Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) took the lead in the President’s campaign versus illegal drugs.