As the Philippine National Police (PNP) focuses on cleansing itself of scalawags, the Duterte administration's war on drugs and Oplan Tokhang has been put on hold, effective Monday, January 31.
PNP Dierector General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa issued a memomarandum which immediatly ordered to halt "Oplan Tokhang" (Operation Knock and Plead) and Oplan Double Barrle, the anti-illegal drugs programs of the PNP.
Human rights advocates hailed on Tuesday the suspension of the war on illegal drugs as regional police units promptly complied with the national directive to cease from all anti-narcotics operations and focus on weeding out rogue police officers from the force.
In compliance to Dela Rosa's directive, drug busts, service of warrants and any other operation related to illegal drugs were put on hold. All drug-related operations will be temporarily conducted solely by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Bato issued the directive on orders of President Rodrigo Duterte, following the abduction and killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo.
As explained by Dela Rosa earlier, the suspension of Oplan Tokhang does not mean the police will close their eyes to anti-illegal drugs activities.
Senior Superintendent Michael John Dubria, Davao City Police Office director, said they are duty-bound to arrest anybody caught in the act of violating the law.
“Being police officers and law enforcers, we are still duty-bound to arrest any crime that is actually happening in front of us or in our presence so duty-bound pa rin ang kapulisan na manghuli," he said.
“Basta illegal activity, any illegal act happening in the presence of the police officer talagang huhulihin naming yan caught in the act or committed in the presence of a police officer or peace officer it is also the same as giving warrantless arrest or citizen’s arrest,” he added.
Dela Rosa said that as part of their internal cleansing, he has created a counter-intelligence group focused on running after police scalawags.
He said he will be “ruthless and unforgiving” against the policemen who destroy the image of the PNP.
Source: SunStar
Image: InterAksyon | SunStar
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