Mayor Binay orders police to conduct 'Oplan Tokhang' in Makati’s posh villages

MANILA, Philippines — Makati Mayor Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay has ordered the city’s police to conduct “Oplan Tokhang” inside the city’s posh villages.

 

Binay also called on residents and barangay officials of the city's six exclusive villages to cooperate and assist the police in identifying known drug users and pushers in their communities.

 

The order came in the wake of a report from Makati City Police chief Senior Superintendent Rommil Mitra that there were zero surrenderees in Barangays Magallanes, Dasmariñas, Forbes, San Lorenzo, Bel-Air and Urdaneta during the conduct of “Oplan Tokhang” last Monday.

 

“I ask the barangay leaders and residents of the six villages to allow the Makati police to conduct Oplan Tokhang inside their subdivisions," she said.

 

??"The war against drugs can only be won if we extend our full cooperation with the police, especially in locating known pushers and users in our own backyard," Binay added.

 

According to Binay, the Makati City Police was not able to conduct “Oplan Tokhang” in the six villages, except for Magallanes, as they were not provided with a list of residents involved in illegal drugs.

 

Under Oplan Tokhang, police station commanders should be provided by the respective barangay captains in their areas of operations to submit a list of residents known to be involved in illegal drugs as pushers, users and couriers.

 

According to the Makati City government, instead of a list, Barangays Bel-Air, Dasmariñas, Forbes Park, San Lorenzo and Urdaneta reportedly issued certifications signed by the respective barangay captains that there were no drug pushers and users monitored in their barangays.

 

Binay said Oplan Tokhang was conducted inside Magallanes Village, but there were no surrenderees.

 

Earlier, Binay commended the Makati police for their initial conduct of Oplan Tokhang that resulted in the voluntary surrender of 734 illegal drug personalities consisting of 161 pushers and 573 users.

 

In the first district, Oplan Tokhang was successfully carried out in the following barangays: Poblacion, 22 users; Palanan, 47 users and nine pushers; Carmona, 48 users and two pushers; Kasilawan, 23 users and 10 pushers; Olympia, 22 users and six pushers; Singkamas, 16 users and nine pushers; Sta. Cruz, seven users; Tejeros, six users and five pushers; Valenzuela, 16 users and two pushers; San Antonio, five users and six pushers; La Paz, 22 users and three pushers; Pio del Pilar, 12 users and five pushers; and San Isidro, 30 users and four pushers.

 

In District 2, Pembo yielded 62 users and five pushers; Guadalupe Viejo, 10 users and six pushers; Guadalupe Nuevo, 28 users and seven pushers; Pinagkaisahan, 41 users and seven pushers; Pitogo, 32 users and four pushers; South Cembo, 33 users and 13 pushers; West Rembo, 30 users and 13 pushers; Cembo, 13 users and nine pushers; East Rembo, 10 users and three pushers; and Northside, six users and four pushers. Comembo, four users; Rizal, 17 users and 20 pushers; and Southside, one user and one pusher.

 

Mayor Binay underscored that all sectors must work together to ensure drug-free communities.

 

“The next challenge is sustaining the anti-drug campaign through constant monitoring and collaboration between our law enforcers and barangay officials,” she said.