MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will conduct Oplan Tokhang operations against security firms in possession of high-powered firearms.
“Itokhang na natin yung mga high-powered firearms na i-surrender,” PNP Civil Security Group (CSG) director Brig. Gen. Roberto Fajardo said in a news briefing at Camp Crame yesterday.
There are about 1,531 security agencies in the country, 860 of which are in Metro Manila.
Tokhang is a program wherein police officers knock on the houses of suspected drug offenders and ask them to surrender and reform.
Fajardo made the warning after a raid by suspected New People’s Army rebels on a mining site in Balingasag town in Misamis Oriental last Monday, wherein they took five AK-47 rifles and scores of ammunition from security guards of AY-76 Security Specialists Inc.
He cited a memorandum in 2017 in compliance with a presidential directive that prohibits security agencies from using high-powered firearms.
Fajardo said security agencies that will not surrender high-powered weapons in their possession will not be allowed to renew their licenses.