QC cops kill 2 drug suspects day before Oplan Tokhang resumes

Two suspected drug pushers were killed by policemen in Quezon City a day before the Philippine National Police (PNP) relaunches Oplan Tokhang as part of its anti-illegal drugs campaign.

A report on Balitanghali identified the suspsects as certain Abies and Job.

Mmebers of the Quezon City Police District's (QCPD) Batasan Police Station killed the two suspects during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Payatas B at around 3 a.m.

Batasan Police chief Superintendent Rossel Cejas said the operatives were about to make the arrest when the suspects allegedly fired at the policemen.

Cejas said the suspects attempted to flee on a motorcycle, but were cornered at the Manahan Subdivision.

Police said the two suspects fired at least three times at the policemen. One policeman was hit in his bullet-proof vest.

The PNP will relaunch Oplan Tokhang on Monday, weeks after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the police to rejoin the drug war.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, QCPD director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar clarified that Oplan Tokhang is different from the police's regular drug enforcement operation.

"Ang Oplan Tokhang ay pagkatok sa mga bahay. May mga nakatira doon na involve sa illegal na droga. Pakikiusapan natin sila na magbalik-loob at mag-undergo ng rehabilitation," he said.

He said those who will not heed the request to surrender will be subjected to the police's drug enforcement operation.

The PNP leadership has released guidelines for its operatives who will be involved in Oplan Tokhang.

Tokhang operations are  now prohibited during weekends and at night. —ALG, GMA News