Davide, Magpale to join upcoming Tokhang operation

CEBU, Philippines - To personally witness and experience how police authorities ask individuals identified as users and pushers to surrender, Governor Hilario Davide III will join the re-launched Oplan Tokhang.

Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Eric Noble has invited again the governor to join them as they conduct the house visitation and ask those who are involved to drugs to surrender.

Noble visited Davide at the Capitol Friday.  They have agreed that the governor will join them in one of their Tokhang operations.

Noble said they don't have any specific date yet but based on their initial agreement, they will have their operation in Cordova, Cebu.

Davide, for his part, said he is willing to join the police in their Tokhang operation but he just needs to fix his schedule first.

"Oo.  Nangita pa mi og schedule nga maayo kay so full akong schedule ron," Davide said.

The CPPO invited Davide last January to join them in their operation, but the plan was not pushed through after President Rodrigo Duterte stopped the police its campaign against illegal drugs and directed them to clean its ranks first.

Aside from Davide, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and the board members were also invited to join the said operation.

Magpale, who co-chaired the Provincial Women Commission (PWC), said she also wanted to volunteer to join the Tokhang because they believe that women and children abuse were linked to drugs.

"Mao lage na, pag sobraan ka-high sa influence sa drugs ang bana, mosaka sab ang women abuse" Magpale said.

Noble said he already asked the chief of police of Cordova to find a barangay where they will conduct the Tokhang operation with the government officials.

Aside from drugs, the police also want to expand their operation to those who are involved in cyber-pornography.

"Nagpapahanap din ako ng lugar, kung merong totokhangin don, at may internet cafe pwde na rin dumaan para at least maraming ma-hit yong schedule na yon," Noble said.

With the presence of provincial officials, the police are hopeful that the pushers and users will be convinced to surrender, especially when they will be informed of the programs set by the Provincial government for them.

"Ay syempre kung ako ang subject na totokhangin eh medyo ano makukumbinsi ako kasi mismo yong govenor at vice governor na ang pumunta ng bahay namin parang ganon," Noble said.

Noble said they also asked the Municipal Anti-drug Abuse Council (MADAC) and Barangay Anti-drug Abuse Council (BADAC) in Cordova to join in the operation.

From the time it started the Oplan Tokhang, the CPPO has already recorded 50,180 drug surrenderers, where 47,434 are users and 2,746 are pushers. —/GAN (FREEMAN)