Cops will start to conduct Oplan Tokhang in gated villages and exclusive subdivisions in Bohol and the rest of the region, months after the anti-drug operation was implemented in less private communities.
The operation will serve the same purpose of convincing drug personalities to stop the use and sale of the illegal substance but tighter guidelines will be observed by police in gated neighborhoods.
According to Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, director of the Police Regional Office 7, they will first conduct “Oplan Taphang†or “Tapok Hangyo†in the said areas before knocking on drug suspects’ doors.
The initiative is a consultative meeting which involves police asking permission from homeowners associations to conduct Tokhang at houses of suspected drug personalities within their neighborhood.
Taliño said that getting authorization from village authorities is necessary to make sure that police officers do not violate policies, as they will be conducting the operation in a private area.
He noted that policemen will also subject condominium residents to Oplan Tokhang applying the same measure.
The announcement of the operation came after concerned citizens vented their appeal to have upscale neighborhoods be subjected to Tokhang which has already been carried out in other communities.
Taliño also said that he believes that some big-time drug dealers are living in several of the region’s gated and guarded subdivisions.
In Metro Manila, police have also started to conduct Oplan Tokhang in posh villages such as those in Makati City and Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
However, a marked difference in how the operations were carried out in these neighborhoods were reported by national dailies.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that it was more like a “courtesy call or a neighborly visit†compared with the more intimidating style of Oplan Tokhang outside upscale villages.
Tokhang operations in exclusive subdivisions were reportedly carried out by a small group of mostly female police officers who distributed flyers on drug awareness and prevention to homeowners.
Police officers also handed out information sheets on how to deal with bomb threats in crowded areas. (Allen Doydora)
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