No ‘Tokhang’ at night, on weekends

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has banned the conduct of Oplan Tokhang in communities at night and on weekends.

Based on the memorandum prescribing the supplemental operational guidelines in the implementation of Tokhang activities, police teams shall conduct house visitations during daytime, from Monday to Friday.

“It is required that police Tokhang teams in proper PNP uniform must be led by police-commissioned officers and shall conduct operations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” the PNP said in statement yesterday.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa yesterday said he had already signed the memorandum containing the salient points on the proper conduct of Tokhang, where policemen knock on the doors of drug suspects and urge them to stop their illegal activities.

The term was coined from the Visayan vernacular toktok (knock) and hangyo (plea).

The oversight committee headed by the PNP deputy director for operations Deputy Director General Fernando Mendez will meet with police deputy regional directors for operations on Monday, Jan. 29, to discuss the guidelines on Tokhang.

“There are a lot of salient points that should be known and cascaded going to the station level so we will have a uniformed implementation of Tokhang,” Dela Rosa told reporters in an ambush interview after the unveiling of a signage warning government employees on gambling inside casinos at Solaire Resort & Casino in Parañaque City.

Asked why they set limitations on the conduct of Tokhang, PNP Directorate for Operations head Director Camilo Pancratius Cascolan said they respect the rights to privacy even of suspected drug offenders.

He explained that doing house visitations at night and on weekends is a form of disrespect to one’s privacy.

“We also respect their rights to rest and their time with their families,” Cascolan said in a phone interview.

It is also easier for members of the religious sector and non-governmental organizations who are interested to join if the activity is held during the day.

When available, policemen are also encouraged to wear body cameras and similar video recording gadgets for transparency.

Dela Rosa said he would require policemen involved in anti-drug operations to wear body cameras once the gadgets become available.

In documenting drug surrenderers, the taking of mug shots and fingerprints should be voluntary and not mandatory.

A Tokhang team is limited to four police officers to ensure accountability.

Violation means administrative offense

Meanwhile, administrative charges await tokhangers or police officers involved in conducting Oplan Tokhang who would violate the new set of guidelines, which was a direct order from Dela Rosa, according to PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos.

“The case depends on the determination of the (Internal Affairs Service), because these are specific guidelines of the PNP chief. He will be appropriately charged administratively,” Carlos said in a press briefing yesterday, adding that any violation of this PNP Supplemental Operational Guidelines shall be dealt with under existing PNP disciplinary mechanisms.

The new set of guidelines, according to him, was issued to eliminate the impression that when one is subject to Tokhang, he would be killed, which would not be the case.

“From the start, Tokhang saves and values the lives of the people hooked on drugs. We have recorded the surrenders of 1.3 million drug users,” Carlos pointed out.

He said the new set of guidelines was also meant to promote transparency in police operation, especially on Oplan Tokhang.

Carlos also clarified that an anti-illegal drug operation, which is meant to account for drug personalities, is different from Oplan Tokhang, which is meant to reach out to the community.

“If it’s an illegal drug operation, it’s not Tokhang. What they do is other police operations. If it’s anti-drug police operations, it’s not Tokhang,” he said.

“Oplan Tokhang… is our way of reaching out. If police officers conduct other operations, they should be declared. It must be known to the chief, it must be known to the (Drug Enforcement Unit) team leader who will conduct the operation,” he added.

The PNP issued a simplified list of do’s and dont’s to be observed by police units when conducting persuasive Tokhang house visits in support of anti-drug operations in communities.

Dela Rosa had earlier given assurance on less bloody anti-drug operations as the PNP reassumed a crucial role in the government’s anti-drug campaign in support of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.  – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Elizabeth Marcelo