Isko Moreno says his war on drugs will focus on source
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has promised to continue the government’s war against illegal drugs if elected president.
He also assures that the controversial “Oplan Tokhang” will only be allowed if the police will secure an arrest warrant or a search warrant from the court.
Moreno said that instead of targeting drug users, his anti-drug campaign will go after the source, while ensuring that the rule of law would always be observed.
“As long as there is search warrant and warrant of arrest,” Moreno said in an ambush interview when asked if Oplan Tokhang would continue. “Under the law you can do that any time of the day. As I have said. Tuloy ang war on drugs, tapos kikilalanin natin yung mga batas na umiiral at yun ang ipatutupad natin.”
“Basta ako, tuloy-tuloy lang yung war on drugs. At ito yung war on drugs kung saan hindi natin tino-tolerate yung pagbebenta ng droga. But the thing is we must go to the source. Tayo, we’ll go after the source,” he added.
“Oplan (operation plan) Tokhang” was a project of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under President Rodrigo Duterte’s first police chief, Senator Ronald dela Rosa.
“Tokhang,” a play on the Visayan words “toktok” (knock) and “hangyo,” (plead) involved police officers in making house visits in communities where the drug trade is rampant.
“Tokhang” however gained a negative reputation following the high number of deaths related to police operations. In 2019, when Vice President Leni Robredo was appointed head of the Inter-Agency Committee Against Illegal Drugs (ICAD), she proposed scrapping the program because the word “Tokhang” has been identified with human rights violations.
READ: Robredo calls for scrapping of ‘Oplan Tokhang’
READ: Robredo, PDEA chief Aquino disagree on scrapping ‘Tokhang’
Several activist groups have accused police officers of committing human rights violations during anti-drug operations. They gave as example the case of 17-year-old student Kian delos Santos who was killed by police officers in Caloocan City.
Delos Santos’ case remains the only instance where police officers were found guilty for committing murder in a drug war-related incident.
READ: 3 policemen guilty of killing Kian delos Santos — court
But Moreno said his administration will not tolerate extrajudicial killings (EJKs) — an issue thrown at the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte by groups who claim that drug-related EJKs may be between 12,000 to 30,000.
“There are no EJKs in Manila. Unless the suspects threatened the lives of our policemen, the suspects were properly apprehended and that their human rights were respected in the process of the entire drug operations,” Moreno said.
“Eliminating drugs is a priority, but it has to be done in recognition still of every individual’s human rights. I believe that human rights are fundamental and that every person has the right to defend themselves before the courts,” he added
The Manila mayor added that he will ensure that security at the country’s borders would be tightened so that the smuggling of illegal drugs is stopped.
“If it is true na wala ng manufacturing dito, ibig sabihin pumapasok ito sa mga borders natin. Malamang yan kasama yan sa mga smuggling ng mga produkto sa ating bansa. At pumapasok sa atin, kung dati nakakagawa sila isang kilo, dalawang kilo lang sa isang planta, e ngayon kung makapagpasok sila, tone-tonelada,” Moreno said.
“So, there must be something wrong with our port of entry, whether it is air or water. And remember we are an archipelagic country, and we don’t have enough resources na bantayan ang 7,000 mahigit na isla ng ating bansa. So most likely dito siya pumapasok. So kailangan nating bantayan, kailangang higpitan,” he added.
The illegal drug trade remains to be a problem in the country. During his presidential campaign, then Davao City mayor Duterte vowed to put an end to illegal drugs in just three to six months.
Duterte would later admit being wrong in putting a deadline to the end of the illegal drugs problem.
READ: Duterte admits he was wrong on 3-6 months drug war deadline
READ: Duterte: When I said I will fight drugs in 6 months, I thought it was like in Davao
READ: Duterte hopes his successor will continue war on drugs
