PNP to craft to new campaign plan before resuming anti-illegal drug ops

The Philippine National Police will craft a new campaign plan in its war against illegal drugs following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order for them to resume their operations and be on active support to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said they would continue their Project Double Barrel which includes Oplan Tokhang and Oplan HVT (High-Value Target) as soon as they finish creating the new campaign plan.

He said the National Oversight Committee will meet Thursday to discuss how the PNP would handle the anti-illegal drugs war anew.

“It will be in the command memorandum circular, ito po ‘yung tinatawag nating campaign plan. Magkakaron po tayo ng bagong [command memorandum circular] to effect our active role or active support in the campaign against illegal drugs as ordered by the President,” he said at a press conference.

He expressed hope the CMC will be done and ready for approval by PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa next week.

Asked when the operations will start, Carlos said he cannot say yet.

“‘Yun ang kukunin natin, is it immediate or are we going to get that body camera first kasi ‘yan 'yung kailangan,” he said.

He said they have already asked for the procurement of 36,000 units of body cameras with a budget of P3 billion.

PNP chief’s instructions

Carlos said to be included in the new campaign plan are the three instructions of the PNP chief such as the use of body cameras for transparency, going full speed in operations but with extreme caution, and intensified internal cleansing effort.

“‘Yung tatlong bagong instruction ni PNP chief, use of the body cameras para maipakita ano ba talaga ang nangyari at hindi yung mali-maling impormasyon ang lumalabas,” he said.

He said the intention in warning the police to be cautious in conducting operations is to lessen the number of casualties in the campaign against illegal drugs.

He reiterated the statement of Dela Rosa that among their lapses in the war against drugs was their overeagerness to conduct the operations. He said this was used by the narco-cops to advance their interests.

“Dapat ay huwag nang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga tiwaling pulis na drug protectors, ninja cops, at nakikinabang na sabotahihin ang ating kumpanya kaya magiging mas maigting ang ating internal cleansing,” he said.

He said they would also continue allowing barangay officials, members of religious sector, media, and other non-government organizations to be part of or witness the operations.

He said they will not let go of Oplan Tokhang as it gave the PNP the biggest result in their campaign.

“Ang Oplan Tokhang ang nagbigay ng napakalaking resulta sa kampanya sa ilegal na droga. This is more than 95 percent of the result. Through Oplan Tokhang we were able to reach out to 1.309 million drug personalities that surrendered,” he said.

“Through Oplan Tokhang over 8.8 million households were visited wherein doon natin inabot ang mga kababayan na nalululong sa droga na mabigyan sila ng pagkakataong magbago,” he added. — MDM/RSJ, GMA News