14 Oct PNP-AFP ‘Kabalikat Laban sa Droga’, Intensified Oplan Tokhang in CDO
A police official said that the ARMY soldiers will cooperate and coordinate with the police officers in Duterte administration’s war against illegal drugs. This joint forces will be conducting the Oplan Tokhang (Toktok-Hangyo) in Cagayan de Oro City, particularly in the villages.
The troops are aware of the criticisms against the new action but insisted that the military forces are being called to support and finally put an end to the drug problem in the city, Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao spokesperson, Police Superintendent Surki Sereñas said.
As he spoke, “Naa gayud kitay criticisms, nga basin pareho sa Mexico nga gigamit ang military, nga kung sa karon naa tay average 34 deaths every day, basin daw kung naa ang military mahimo na ug 340 ang average count sa casualties.”
He added, “Mao na gani atong giemphasize na muapil sila dili para padaghanon ang casualties, but para mahimong deterrence, nga kung makita nila ang army, mawad-an silag fighting spirit nga mohimo pa sa daotan nga butang.”
Sereñas said that while the joint execution plan is still being formulated, the soldiers will only take part in the conduct of Oplan Tokhang.
He stated, “We had fruitful discussions, but this scheme is hangtod lang sa atong kampanya sa illegal drugs.”
On October 12, Wednesday, the three-day training on law enforcement operations administered by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for the selected representatives of ten battalions of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) concluded.
Important topics discussed are ways in conducting operations, intelligence, and police-community relations, said Sereñas.
Soldiers participated will take a practical test, which concluded the training on law enforcement.
Sereñas stated, “Basically, what we discussed to the soldiers is the whole concept of Oplan Double Barrel, what they needed to learn in the conduct of our campaign. Of course, in terms of firearms and operational capability, no question naman ni sa ila, pero ang ato lang ginasigurado is that when they engage in operations, sunod dapat sa balaod, masunod, sa procedure and detalye.”
He added, “As a principle, approved na ni sa kaulohan, kulang nalang ni ug implementation.”
The “basis” and “references” for the new system was cited by Sereñas by the Article 2, sections 1 and 2 of the Philippine Constitution, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165), memorandum circular of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of the state of national emergency.
The action is “a firm response to the current thrust of the National Government in the fight against the illegal drug menace,” according to an official of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division.
The training will boost the capacity of each and every soldier to assist the law enforcement operations conducted by the PNP, said 4ID commander, Major General Benjamin Madrigal Jr.
He added that it will also intensify the collaboration of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) preceding to the execution of the “PNP-AFP Kabalikat Laban sa Droga,” the joint execution plan concerning the police’s Oplan Double Barrel.
Madrigal stated, “The desire of our President to create a drug-free country should be made not only by the PNP and AFP but the whole Filipino nation.”
News Source: Sun.Star
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