Isko to continue Oplan Tokhang: ‘Basta may warrant’

Pilar, BATAAN — Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno on Wednesday said he will continue Oplan Tokhang as long as police officers have search or arrest warrants with them during operations.

In an ambush interview, Moreno was asked if he will continue the government’s knock-and-plead strategy of convincing suspects to stop using illegal drugs.

“As long as there is search warrant or warrant of arrest. Under the law, you can do that any time of the day basta may issuance of warrant or warrant of arrest,” he said.

(As long as there is a search warrant or warrant of arrest. Under the law, you can do that any time of the day basta may issuance of warrant or warrant of arrest.)

“As I have said, tuloy ang war on drugs tapos kikilalanin natin yung mga batas na umiiral at yun ang ipapatupad natin,” he added.

(As I have said, the war on drugs will continue. We will acknowledge the laws that are prevailing and we will implement them.)

Moreno also said the next administration must continue President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.

“Everybody should. Not only me but ako tuloy-tuloy lang ‘yung war on drugs. Ito ‘yung war on drugs na kung saan hindi natin tino tolerate ‘yung pag bebenta ng droga tas pinalalagaan ‘yung mga na biktima ng droga, health-wise,” he said.

(Everybody should. Not only me, but I will continue the war on drugs. The war on drugs where we will not tolerate the selling of drugs and we will place importance on victims of drugs, health-wise.)

Further, the Manila mayor said his administration will “go after the source.”

“If it is true na wala nang manufacturing dito ng droga, wala nang planta ng droga, pero bakit may droga? So ibig sabihin, pumapasok ito sa mga borders natin,” he said.

(If it is true that there is no manufacturing of drugs here, no factories, then why are there drugs? This means that they are entering through our borders.)

“So ‘yung war on drugs natin, wala tayo ito-tolerate, syempre. Under the rule of law. Rights will be recognized and heard, but the thing is, we must go to the source,” he added.

(So our war on drugs, we will not tolerate, of course. Under the rule of law. Rights will be recognized and heard, but the thing is, we must go to the source.) 

AKRHO endorsement

Meanwhile, national leaders and officers of the international fraternity and sorority group Alpha Kappa Rho (AKRHO) have endorsed Moreno’s candidacy.

Dr. Joseph De Guzman, the fraternity’s Luzon Grand Skeptron, led some 300 AKRHO members in expressing their support for Moreno during a gathering held at the Isko Moreno for President Movement Headquarters in Intramuros, Manila on Monday, a statement from Moreno’s camp said Wednesday.

The statement quoted Dr. De Guzman as citing some of the reasons why AKRHO is endorsing Moreno:  being pious or God-centered person; being patriotic and always looking after the welfare of poor families through the building of housing projects and modern hospitals.

“So, ating President Yorme nakita naman natin sa ating hierarchy of priorities services: ang AKRHO dapat maka-Diyos. Nakita po natin kay Yorme yan, God first. Pangalawa po ang ating priority ay makabayan at ginawa po nya yan sa Maynila. Pangatlo po ay para sa pamilyang Pilipino. Binigyan nya po ang pamilya ng magandang tirahan at ospital sa Maynila,” De Guzman said.

And if Moreno wins the presidency, De Guzman said the fraternity has only one request — for them to have a land where the national headquarters of Alpha Kappa Rho will be built.  — RSJ, GMA News