THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) will begin Wednesday, June 23, its version of "Oplan Tokhang" (toktok-hangyo or knock and plead), an anti-illegal drugs campaign which first gained attraction in Davao City at the time of incoming Philippine National Police chief Senior Superintendent Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.
Police Chief Inspector Ariel Phillip Pontillas, chief of Agora Police Station, said they will visit the homes of some 40 suspected drug personalities in Barangay 26 Wednesday in an attempt to persuade the suspected drug pushers and/or users to mend their ways.
Pontillas said the names of the 40 were given to them by the different Barangay Anti-Drug Councils.
He said policemen have already validated the names on the lists and said these were ‘verified’ information.
Pontillas said while they will only be talking with the supposed suspects, the policemen will be armed and ready to respond to any situation.
He said the Barangays 22 and Gusa have also submitted their lists.
Pontillas said today’s Tokhang operation is on top of its routine anti-illegal drugs campaign.
"Before sa pag-launch nato sa barangay ayaw sa droga nga list, mga 75 percent na ang atong nadakpan diri. But this time, naa naman pud ta new list, gamay pa ang nadakpan," he said.
"Two pushers per week ang average number sa atong madakapan, pero naa gyud pud usahay nga wala but maningkamot gyud mi nga naa," he said.
Pontillas said records of suspected drug users surrendering before them can now be observed in their station since the intensified anti-drug campaign.
Cocpo spokesperson Police Superintendent Michael Deloso said in a separate interview that ‘Oplan Tokhang’ will be city-wide.
Deloso said the youth will be the specific target of the campaign since most of the individuals in the supposed list of drug personalities are young persons.
Religious groups
Deloso said they will also ask some members of religious groups to accompany them in the operations so that suspected drug personalities can promise and take an oath before priests and pastors that they will stop their involvement in illegal drugs.
"One of our purpose is to let the public know nga inyong police, dili lang pud pirmi gapangdakop, kundili naa pud mi lain approach to combat the proliferation of illegal drugs in the community," Deloso said.
However, Deloso said their job would not stop in knocking and persuading the drug suspects, but will include a monitoring to prove they have indeed changed.
Deloso also lauded the Barangay Anti-drug Councils for their 'overwhelming support' in the effort to complete the list of dug personalities.
He said the barangay councils have been sending names continuously and are coming to the police stations themselves for information, and sometimes assisting the surrender of some suspected drug users/pushers.
"Kung naa pay labaw sa word nga overwhelming, mao na gyud na ang ginabuhat sa atong mga barangay anti-drug councils," he said.