CEBU, Philippines - With the start of President Rodrigo Duterte's term, police are expecting the possibility of a mass surrender of drug users and pushers.
However, without 'evidence', Police Regional Office-7 Director Chief Supe-rintendent Patrocinio Comendador Jr., said they cannot just detain people who surrender to them.
With this, Comendador urges drug pushers and users who are planning to surrender to bring with them drugs so they can be imprisoned.
"Mao tong giawhag nako before nga kun mosurrender sila magdala sila og shabu para may legal holding ta, at the same time maibanan ang supply, pwede utangon nila sa illegal dealer para matumbling sad nila," he said.
"It will in effect reduce the supply and we will have a legal hold in them pwede na nato masulod sa prisohan. Kay sa atong pagtan-aw basin surrender ra na nya mobalik lang gihapon," he added.
Hours prior President Duterte took his oath, the Fuente Police Station of the Cebu City Police Office launched the first "Oplan Tokhang (tuktok hangyo)" in Barangay Sambag II.
Chief Inspector Michael Angelo Beltran, Fuente Police chief, knocked on doors of residences of suspected drug pushers and users to ask them to stop dealing and using drugs.
Of the six suspected drug pushers and users, five signed an agreement with the police promising to stop their illegal activities.
The remaining one denied that he was involved in using or selling illegal drugs.
Beltran said the list of persons whom they visited was given by the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council of Barangay Sambag II.
Aside from Sambag II, other barangays will be visited by the police in line with their program against illegal drugs.
In Mandaue City, three suspected drug pushers in Barangay Subangdaku voluntarily surrendered to police yesterday afternoon.
Police Senior Superintendent Narciso Abapo, station commander of Subangdaku police, said the three initially expressed their intention to surrender to Barangay Captain and ABC president Ernie Manatad.
Abapo said the barangay official immediately coordinated with them in facilitating the surrender of the illegal drugs suspects.
Anne Anne Reyes, who is six months pregnant, said she voluntarily surrendered to the police to clear her name, insisting that she is not a pusher and that her house was only used for illegal drug sessions.
"Wala man gyud ko miapil pero kanang among balay gihimo lang gyud og saka ug kanaog sa mga manuyopay siguro nadala lang gyud akong pangalan tungod niana," Reyes said, adding that in order to clear her name she already promised to transfer.
Aida Reyes, 48 years old, promised that she will not sell drugs anymore. She started selling drugs in 2015 while Allan Getigan, 60 years old, admitted that sold drugs in 2014.
Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing said the city government supports the thrust of President Duterte in solving the problem of illegal drugs and criminality.
Quisumbing, however, said his administration will not give rewards to policemen who will be able to catch and kill criminals and illegal drugs pushers.
"I'm assured by Col. (Jonathan) Cabal, our city director for the police, that the Mandaue City police is highly professional, high dedicated and motivated and they do not need the bounty at least here as far as the city of Mandaue City is Concern," Quisumbing said.
Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Comendador assured that they will support the orders of the duly elected officials in the fight against criminality and illegal drugs.
Comendador said though that the implementation would not be that hard as they have already started strengthening the fight against drugs.
"Tinuod na na naa sa amoa ang pagpatigbabaw o pag-implement sa orders, pero diri sa region-7 medyo naka jump off tag una. I think it's not very difficult for us to implement the programs, sa akong giingon nga nagsugod na ta," he added.
He added that having a person like Duterte as a leader, who has the same vision as the police force, makes them more inspired to do their job.
"Kana gyud no kay naa man tay makita nato nga leader nga nag-provide og direction og inspiration sa ubos, ang iyang vision pariha sa vision sa kapulisan the more zealous sa campaign sa illegal drugs," he said.
Senior Superintendent Clifford Gairanod, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), has also mandated his men to strengthen arrests against drug pushers.
If drug pushers will resist arrest, he said they will not hesitate to neutralize them. Gairanod said they will implement the full force of the law against violators.
Further, Lieutenant General Nicanor Vibar, Central Command commander, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is ready to support the Philippine National Police in the drive against illegal drugs.
"Laging kasama ang AFP unless bigyan kami ng bagong mandate to have our own but I think the AFP always in support of the PNP especially anti-criminality and illegal drugs," he said. (FREEMAN)