Oplan Tokhang to include subdivisions

THE campaign against illegal drugs applies to all, be it against poor or rich suspects.

This was the assurance given by Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Ronald dela Rosa in answer to criticisms that his anti-illegal drive is centered only in slum areas and not subdivisions and villages.

"Wala ta’y ginapili (We’re not making distinctions here). We act based on information given to us," Senior Superintendent dela Rosa told Sun.Star Davao Wednesday morning at the DCPO conference room.

He then dared individuals who had information to give him the names of suspected drug pushers and users residing in subdivisions and vllages.

Dela Rosa has been spearheading a proactive illegal drug eradication campaign called Oplan Tokhang in the barangays for one month now.

The DCPO chief emphasized that the campaign does not only focus in coastal and slum areas. He said Oplan Tokhang either Taphang (Tapok, Hangyo) also includes subdivisions and villages, but only if the residents there will provide them information.

"Nauna lang ning mga coastal ug slum areas tungod sagad sa mga reported drug pushers and users naa dira gapundo pero la na nagpasabot na kutob ra pud dira among operation (We just started with the coastal areas and slums because this is where the great number of drug pushers and users are reported but it doesn’t mean that these are all we will be visiting)," Dela Rosa said.

"Kung nay makasulti nga nay drug pusher or user anaa anang subdivision or village dira, sudlon nato na. Just give me the names and atong toktokun ilang mga balay ug hangyuon bisan kinsa pa na sila. Dili porket arangan ug kahimtang or datu ba dira dili na nato adtuon (If anyone can say that there is a drug pusher in that subdivision, then we will go there. Just give me the named and we will knock on their doors. It doesn’t mean that just because they are better that we will visit them)," he added.

Dela Rosa said for them, there is nothing to be afraid in implementing Oplan Tokhang in subdivisions and villages as none of the authorities so far violated constitutional laws during the operation on the other areas.

"Busa muhangyo ko sa inyo kung kinsa man nakabalo dira kung aduna may tokhangonun dira sa mga subdivisions, tagai ko'g mga pangalan nila kay adtuon namo na. Wala ko nahadlok sa ila. Di unta nato hulaton na madakpan sila sa lain operation, karon pa lang mas maayo if istoryaon na daan sila na muundang (Thus I ask the public that if there is somebody that needed to be visited in any of our subdivisions, give us the name and we will visit the person. I am not scared of these people. I just hope that they will not wait for us to arrest them in separate operations. It’s best for them to stop now)," Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa then reiterated his appeal to the public to coordinate with authorities in the fight against illegal drugs.