1,573 surrender in ‘Double Barrel’ relaunch

MANILA — In the Jan. 29-Feb. 8 run of the relaunch of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) “Oplan Double Barrel”, a total of 3,456 “Tokhang” activities were conducted with 1,573 suspects surrendering nationwide.

This was disclosed by PNP deputy spokesperson, Supt. Vimelee Madrid, during a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City Friday.

The suspects came from 17 regions with Police Regional Office 10 (Northern Mindanao) recording the most surrenderers with 586, followed by the National Capital Region Police Office with 401.

No casualty has been recorded in the operations, she added.

PNP chief, Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, has said that “Tokhang” teams must be in proper PNP uniform, led by a commissioned officer, and conduct operations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

“Tokhang” persuasive efforts will be more active in the coming days, he said, assuring the public that it would be less bloody.

On Jan. 29, the PNP reassumed the crucial role in the national government’s anti-drug campaign in support of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, by virtue of Presidential Memorandum Order No. 17.

From Dec. 5, 2017 to Feb. 8, 2018, police arrested 6,253 drug personalities in 4,058 operations, with 53 suspects reportedly neutralized.