PNP: No more Tokhang at night and on weekends

No more Oplan Tokhang at night and on weekends, according to the supplemental operational guidelines signed by Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

On Wednesday, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said the memorandum was circulated Tuesday by the PNP National Headquarters to all police regional offices and national support units prescribing supplemental operational guidelines when conducting Tokhang activities.

Carlos said the guidelines require the Tokhang teams to be in proper PNP uniform and must be led by a police commissioned officer.

He said Tokhang should only be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

“When available, the use of body camera and similar video recording gadgets is highly encouraged in Tokhang operations,” Carlos said in a press statement.

He said in the documentation of surrenderers, taking of mug shots and fingerprint, is voluntary and should not be mandatory.

He said they would impose sanctions for unwarranted violation of the guidelines.

“Any violation of this PNP Supplemental Operational Guidelines shall be dealt with under existing PNP disciplinary mechanisms,” Carlos said.

He said the guidelines specifically states that Tokhang operations shall be intelligence-driven and targeting suspected illegal drug suspects listed by the Directorate for Intelligence.

He said the guidelines is a simplified list of do’s and dont’s to be observed by police units when conducting house visits in support of anti-drug operations in communities amid the assurance of the PNP chief that the anti-illegal drug operations would be less bloody.

Carlos said Tokhang is a practical and realistic means of accelerating the drive against illegal drugs in affected barangays.

Tokhang is derived from a Visayan vernacular “Toktok-Hangyo” which means “to knock and plead.”

The concept involves visiting the residences of suspected illegal drugs personalities who are included in the watch list provided by the DI to persuade them to cease from their illegal activities as well as to avail of the wellness and recovery programs of government.

Carlos said the supplemental guidelines are essentially founded on the fundamental principles of respect for human rights and strict adherence to the rule of law, with greater emphasis on transparency, accountability and command responsibility.

He added the more salient items in the 12-point guidelines prescribe that: “Rule of Law shall always prevail during the conduct of all anti-illegal drug related activities including Tokhang activities, and respect for human rights shall be strictly observed at all times.”

‘Tokhangers’

At  a press conference earlier in the day, Dela Rosa confirmed that he already signed the guidelines and on Monday the deputy regional directors for operations will be met by Deputy Director General Fernando Mendez for orientation.

“Para iyon magkaroon ng uniformed implementation, ma-orient properly kung sino lang magiging Tokhangers at maraming salient points na kailangan malaman nila para ma-cascade going to the station level, para hindi tayo masingitan,” he said.

Director Camilo Pancracius Cascolan, PNP director for operations, said they wanted to respect the right of the public and their time for the family.

“To respect the time for the family and for them to relax also,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online when asked why they limited the time for the Tokhang operations. — RSJ, GMA News