Illegal-drugs recidivists put on operation targets

CATBALOGAN CITY, SAMAR, Philippines — Those who surrendered and underwent processing with Project Tokhang, but continued to ply their illegal drugs trade will become targets of the police's Project Double Barrel.

This was the warning aired by Superintendent Edwin Barbosa, chief of the Catbalogan Police, after learning that about 20 percent of the drug personalities who surrendered since July 1 have resumed their illegal activities.

"I was not convinced of their surrender. We learned that several of them maintained their drug-related activities. They surrendered superficially, perhaps they thought that we will be lenient in our monitoring, but we are not, this campaign is a serious matter," Barbosa declared.

The police official also pointed out that some of those who surrendered were not cooperating, and did not divulge who and where they are getting their supply of illegal-drugs.

"Part of the undertaking they signed is to divulge their sources, kaso sasabihin lang hindi nila alam or di kaya nickname lang, ang iba naman iniuutos lang at pati ba naman pangalan ng inutusan hindi kilala? Ano yun lokohan?" quipped Barbosa.

Under Project Double Barrel, drug-recidivists will be considered as valuable targets and subjects of search warrants issuances, buy-bust and similar special operations by the police anti-illegal drugs special group.

"Kapag nanlaban pa sila during these special operations, alam na nila ang mangyayari sa kanila. Apparently they made a choice this time, ayaw nilang magbago under Project Tokhang. Hindi ko alam kung gusto pa talaga nilang magbago," warned Barbosa.

Further, Barbosa told The Freeman that drug tests will be carried out for personnel of the City Police, but they would not know when will these be conducted.

"Tapos na kaming mga chiefs of police. It was a surprise. Nag-command conference lang kami pero bigla nag-announce ng drug test, and I will do it as well dito sa Catbalogan," Barbosa added.   (FREEMAN)