Taliño: Tokhang targets rich, too

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine National Police's anti-drug campaign "Oplan Tokhang" would not be selective, police officials assured yesterday.

During the "Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis," a forum organized by the Police Regional Office-7 and the Philippine Information Agency, PRO-7 Director Noli Taliño said that once a person is included in the police stations' watchlist of drug personalities, they would not hesitate to visit him, regardless if he is in a condominium, subdivision or in the slum area.

"Ang Tokhang ay walang pini-pili na tao, mayaman man o mahirap. Kasi ang problema natin sa ilegal na drogas ganun din, mahirap man o mayaman, lalaki o babae, bata o matanda ay biktima ng ilegal na droga," he said.

Operation Tokhang (short for the Cebuano words toktok or knock and hangyo or beseech) involves authorities knocking on the doors of suspected drug personalities and encouraging them to get profiled by the police and to promise to give up the illegal drugs trade.

This is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's crusade to eradicate illegal drugs within six months.

The latest data from the police showed that they already visited 1,744 houses in Cebu City resulting to at least 2,600 "surrenderees."

Taliño warned those who turned themselves in to be true to their commitment to stay away from illegal drugs.

He said their act does not really clear them since they could still be the subject of anti-drug operations and monitoring.

 "Some think na ang pag-surrender, yan lang. Ang iba kasi is just to clear their names," Taliño said.

Cebu City Police Office Director Joel Doria, on the other hand, also said they do not only target common drug personalities.

He said the scope of the campaign covers not only those in squatter areas but also those in high-end subdivisions and even condominiums.

Doria, however, made it clear that the enforcement of the campaign in posh areas would depend on information they received on the presence of drug-related activities and/or personalities.

"Ang pangit naman po na 'yong high-end subdivision papasukin mo without knowing if ang tao talaga ba doon ay gumagamit. We have to check our list," he said.

He said the police are also coordinating with the concerned barangay during the Oplan Tokhang implementation.

Taliño said they were working with local governments in the region for the rehabilitation of the "surrenderees." (FREEMAN)