Deped adamant: No ‘oplan tokhang’ in schools

Education Secretary Leonor Briones is standing firm on her previous announcement that no schools will be subjected to the ongoing door-to-door campaign to root out drug abusers although the Philippine National Police is welcome to help strengthen the department’s drug education program.

In a statement, Briones that said the Department of Education (DepEd) was fully supportive of the PNP campaign against illegal drugs but “Oplan Tokhang” has no place in schools and other educational institutions.

“Both DepEd and the PNP recognize and implement the long-standing policy that prohibits—with or without the drug problem—police and military personnel from entering school grounds,” she added.

Briones clarified that the inclusion of schools in the police’s anti-illegal drugs campaign referred to the collaboration between them to strengthen the syllabus on drug education.

“They (PNP) will help in the drug education program because they have a lot of stories to tell; they have the expertise on the dangers of drugs,” said Briones, adding that policemen may be invited to schools to give briefings.

In July, she declared that one of the first undertakings of the DepEd under her leadership was to review and strengthen the syllabus on drug education and possibly introduce a separate subject in line with President Duterte’s antidrug policy.

This includes teaching students about the consequences of drug addiction and practical lessons on how to spot drug pushers, among others.