A police general has found nothing wrong with the implementation of “Oplan: Tokhang,” the administration’s controversial strategy in carrying out the war on drugs.
Police Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, head of the Police Regional Office-7, said they will continue to implement the anti-narcotics operation until it is formally halted by his police leadership.
De Leon issued the statement after Vice President Leni Robredo floated the possible scrapping of the police operation related to the anti-drug crackdown amid its negative perception that it was all about killings. Under Oplan Tokhang, policemen visit the houses of suspected drug personalities and seek their surrender.
“May intensyon pa lang si drug czar natin ‘no. Until we receive a direct order from our high headquarters, following the chain of command, siguro doon tayo ano,” De Leon said.
“But meantime, there’s nothing wrong with the Tokhang naman. We want to ensure that those who were in the list are no longer engaged in illegal drugs,” he said.
Robredo, new co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, earlier called for a review of Oplan Tokhang as she sought an end to the “senseless killings” in the war on drugs.
She noted that the Oplan Tokhang campaign has been associated with the deaths of drug suspects and other alleged police abuses. (Genalyn Kabiling)
