Central Luzon cops join rally vs illegal drugs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - More than 1,000 uniformed and non-uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Luzon joined on Saturday, February 24, the nationwide simultaneous advocacy walk against illegal drugs.

The activity, dubbed “L.A.K.A.D (Lipulin at Kalampaging ang Droga) Tokhang”, was held in line with the re-launch of the PNP's controversial anti-illegal drug drive “Oplan Tokhang.”

Chief Superintendent Amador Corpus, PNP Central Luzon director, said the conduct of the walk-for-a-cause, which kicked off at 3:00 p.m. at the Pampanga Provincial Police Office, is aimed at educating anew the public on the ill-effects of drugs and its effects to the society.

During the walk, Consulta said police personnel held posters and distributed various information materials to passers-by and establishments along the route.

Corpus said the activity, which was participated in by personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, provincial government of Pampanga, faculty staff and students of Don Honorio Ventura State University and numerous non-government organizations, likewise aims to encourage the public to actively participate in the government’s war against dangerous drugs.

“We always say that every member of society has the duty to help address crime and lawlessness in the country. Sasamantalahin ko na din po ang pagkakataong ito upang himukin kayo at hingin ang patuloy ninyong suporta sa aming mga adhikain. We are also counting on you. Kayang-kaya po natin ito, kapag sama-sama po tayo. Together, let us work for a drug-free communities,” Corpus said.

Corpus also noted that the nationwide anti-illegal drug march was also held to inform the public of the positive effects of the relaunched Oplan Tokhang (knock and plead) and erase the negative impressions tagged to it.

The PNP was twice stripped of its major role in Duterte’s war on drugs: first in January 2017 due to the controversial death of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo inside the Camp Crame and in October 2017 after a series of killings involving minors in Caloocan City, such as Kian Loyd delos Santos and Carl Angelo Arnaiz.

But in December 2017, Duterte ordered the PNP to once again take on a major role in the campaign against illegal drugs, although the PDEA continues to be the lead agency.

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