Majority of Tokhang targets in Western Visayas did not yield

ILOILO CITY, Philippines —The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) registered a 100 percent compliance as far as Oplan Tokhang is concerned, but most of the targets refused to surrender.

Superintendent Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said police units all over Western Visayas have visited the identified houses of the 1,391 illegal drug personalities on the police watchlist. "Of the said number, 901 did not surrender," he said.

Oplan Tokhang, which came from the Visayas words toktok-hangyo (knock and plea), is a national law enforcement project of  the PNP, which was launched as part of the campaign to warn illegal drug traffickers and users to stop their activities.

Malong said most of those who did not surrender denied that they are into the illegal drug activities. Others opted not to appear at the police station allegedly for fears that they might be subjected to police operations once they surrender. A good number of Tokhang targets also were already not residing at their identified houses.

From May 8 to 14, a total of 12 anti-drug operations were conducted in Western Visayas. Negros Occidental topped the most number of operations with eight followed by Bacolod City with three and Iloilo City with one. From December 5, 2017 to May 14 this year, a total of  712 suspects were arrested during drug operations conducted in the region.

Meanwhile, in a meeting of the Regional Oversight Committee against Illegal Drugs and Illegal Gambling, presided over by Senior Superintendent Remus Canieso, chief of the PRO-6 Directorial Staff, the need for a strengthened internal cleansing efforts has been discussed.

The committee is body that orchestrates activities and operations against illegal drugs and gambling in the region. One of PRO-6 priority strategies to strengthen its fight against illegal gambling is internal cleansing. PRO-6 reiterated that policemen are not allowed to enter casinos and other illegal gambling establishments.

"We cannot implement the law without cleansing our ranks first," Canieso said, as he required all unit commanders to guard their ranks and report erring police officers. "The commanders will be held liable for the misdeeds of their subordinates," he said.

From May 8 to 14, a total of 42 anti-illegal gambling operations were conducted, leading to the arrest of 120 persons and the confiscation of P8,989 bet money. From December 5 last year to May 7 this year, 311 illegal gambling operations were conducted and 311 cases were filed in court against the suspects.