PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Wednesday, February 28, that the Oplan Tokhang (Toktok, Hangyo) is meant to save lives of people and the future.
Dela Rosa issued the statement during the Kabataan Kontra Droga Symposium held at Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School, which was participated by students, teachers, and parents from various schools.
"Oplan Tokhang is meant to save and not to kill," Dela Rosa said, adding the relaunched Tokhang is a "knock-and-plead" operation intended to help those involved in drugs to come out and receive rehabilitation.
He said the operation is governed by a set of supplemental guidelines to ensure accountability, transparency, and responsibility by operating units who have the simplified list of the dos and don'ts to be observed.
Dela Rosa also said the PNP's anti-drug operations are also governed by supplemental guidelines essentially founded on the fundamental principles of respect for human rights and strict adherence to the rule of law.
"This is with greater emphasis on transparency, accountability and command responsibility. With all these guidelines, we are optimistic that there will now be less bloody anti-drug operations (in our country)," he said.
Dela Rosa also said that to accelerate efforts against the proliferation of drugs in affected barangays, the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (Badacs) are deputized and empowered to implement strategic policies over such concern.
Badacs are the grassroots' cutting edge of the national anti-drug campaign that seeks to free the country's 42,000 barangays from the worldwide problem on drug abuse, dela Rosa explained.
As the forefront in combat against drugs, Dela Rosa said, he believes that their campaign will become even stronger with the help of the youth who are oftentimes the victims of the drug menace.