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Palace hopes relaunched Tokhang will be less controversial

January 29, 2018 | 6:53pm

Palace hopes relaunched Tokhang will be less controversial

Presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque during a press briefing at the International Media Center in New Delhi, India on January 25, 2018, calls on the Filipinos to look back and recognize the sacrifice of their fallen colleagues as the country commemorates the National Day of Remembrance for the heroism of the 44 Special Action Force who gave up their life in service to the country. Yancy Lim/Presidential Photo

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is looking forward to a less bloody and less controversial Oplan Tokhang as the Philippine National Police relaunched the anti-illegal drug campaign Monday.

"We’re we are hoping that they have learned from their past experience. The PNP has said they want this Tokhang operation to be less bloody, we are hoping it will be," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing Monday.

"We are certainly hoping that it will be less controversial because controversy will only blur the real intentions behind the Tokhang which is really the fight against dangerous drugs," he added.

Under Oplan Tokhang, policemen knock at the doors of suspected drug offenders and ask them to stop their unlawful activities. The campaign stirred controversy because of the spate of deaths of suspects who supposedly fought with law enforcers and allegations that it encouraged extrajudicial killings.

READ: Tokhang relaunched today

The killings have drawn flak among human rights advocates here and abroad and have triggered calls to review the methods employed by policemen involved in anti-narcotics operations.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who vowed to continue his war on illegal drugs "until the last drug pusher is out of the streets" has vowed to protect policemen who shoot drug suspects who pose a threat to their lives.

But he has clarified that the protection does not cover law enforcers who commit crimes and abusive practices.

Roque welcomed PNP's statement reaffirming their commitment to the rule of law. He said the president has no instructions regarding the relaunched campaign, noting that the PNP has already issued new guidelines for law enforcers involved in drug raids.

Interior department officer-in-charge Eduardo Año has said that the new Tokhang guidelines emphasize accountability of police personnel who will support the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which has been tasked to lead the campaign.

While the PNP promised a less bloody Tokhang, at least four suspected drug personalities in Quezon City, Pasig and Cavite were killed days before the relaunch of the anti-drug crackdown.

READ: PNP: No 'Oplan Tokhang' at night and on weekends

Last year, Duterte removed the PNP from the anti-drug war following the deaths of teenage drug suspects in Caloocan. He restored the PNP's role in the campaign after a few months because of supposed "notable resurgence in illegal drug activities and crimes."

More than 19,000 "homicide" cases were recorded since the start of the drug war in 2016 but only about 2,200 of them are drug-related, according to PNP The police has conducted more than 64,000 anti-drug operations and has nabbed more than 102,000 drug suspects.