PNP RETHINKS WAR ON DRUGS: Implementation is an issue, PH’s top cop says

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, who was said to be one of the brains behind the Oplan Double Barrel, said Thursday that they are pursuing the government’s controversial war on illegal drugs.

Cascolan made the statement when asked if he considered Oplan Double Barrel, with Oplan Tokhang as one of its two phases, a success.

But he first pointed out that Oplan Tokhang was first conceptualized in Davao City by former PNP chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

Oplan Tokhang is part of Oplan Double Barrel, with the second barrel referring to Oplan High Value Target.

Oplan Tokhang, or Operational Plan “Tuktok Hangyo,” from the combination of Visayan words Tuktok (knock) and Hangyo (Pleading/persuade).

The operation involves police personnel, accompanied by local officials of the barangays or town, who go from house to house of suspected drug addicts and drug pushers to persuade and warn them to stop their illegal activities.

They also offer drug rehabilitation and livelihood program to be shouldered by the local government.

Oplan High Value Target used police action on suspected high value targets.

“If you would note, even the Vice President (Leni Robredo) said that the Oplan Double Barrel is actually clean. She said that there’s nothing wrong with Oplan Double Barrel. The problem may have been when it was implemented by some officers of the Philippine National Police,” Cascolan said in a press conference at the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) headquarters in Iloilo City.

Cascolan said this could be the reason why they are handling a lot of cases right now against those PNP members who have violated the rule of law and human rights.

He made mention the case of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo and 17-year-old student Kian delos Santos.

Jee Ick Joo, an alleged victim of a “tokhang-for-ransom” scheme, was allegedly killed by police officers inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

Delos Santos, on the other hand, was fatally shot by police officers conducting an anti-drug operation in Caloocan, Metro Manila on August 16, 2017.

“Those who are involved are now behind bars and there are still a lot of cases being under investigated,” he said.

Cascolan said they know that Oplan Double Barrel has accomplished its mission.

He noted that 1.8 million drug personalities (1.4 million surrendered and 400,000 arrested) have been accounted for.

“And with this, we are re-evaluating and at the same time, coming up with another strategy on how we would be able pursue Oplan Double Barrel or the anti-illegal drug campaign,” he said.

But Cascolan did not go into details.

For the plan to realize, “the directive of the President is one, remove graft and corruption in the Philippine National Police; follow the rule of law and no violation of human rights; and pursue and continue our drive against illegal drugs,” he said.

Late this year, Robredo acknowledged that Oplan Tokhang will remain in place but claimed the campaign must undergo “retooling.”

Officially, the PNP claimed that 6,500 have been killed by officers in operations related to Oplan Tokhang.

However, rights groups estimated that the death toll could be as high as 23,983.