Exclusive QC villages is next stop of Oplan Tokhang

After Makati and Muntinlupa, the “Oplan Tokhang” will next enter  the gated subdivisions and villages in Quezon City.

In a consultative meeting with homeowners associations of Districts 1 and 2 at the City Hall, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, head of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council, said Quezon City is host to more than 500 exclusive and gated villages.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and the local government unit stressed on Wednesday that it would “not just be for show.”

“What is different from their Oplan Tokhang is that it lacked the cooperation of homeowners associations in those cities (Makati and Muntinlupa),” Belmonte said, noting that only security guards “not just be for show and maids faced policemen because the owners refused to show themselves to the authorities.”

“But for us, it will not just be for show. We want to do something different here and encourage you to all participate in this program,” Belmonte said as she addressed representatives of homeowners associations in GSIS Village, Congressional Village, Pugad Lawin Villas and Philam Homes, among others.

Help from homeowners

Belmonte said the city and the police force would need the help of the homeowners to make sure that these villages are drug-free communities and that no high-value targets are living inside these gated communities.

“Last May, a ‘shabu’ laboratory in Ayala, Alabang, was discovered and two months ago another one was discovered in Loyola Grand Villas,” Belmonte said, saying these big drug suspects earn around P5 million a week and P20 million a month.

The Association of Quezon City Homeowners Associations, Inc. proposed a set of protocols for the conduct of Oplan Tokhang in Quezon City including a provision stating that no visits should be made by the police without prior consent from the homeowners associations.

Belmonte, however, said the proposed protocols would still be finalized after a meeting with the homeowners of all the districts in Quezon City.

QCPD head Senior Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said these protocols would just be guidelines on how they will conduct the operation.

Eleazar hopes this coordination with the homeowners will encourage them to provide information to the police if there are illegal drug activities in their areas.

As of Wednesday, more than 11,000 houses in Quezon City have been covered by Oplan Tokhang  with more than 8,000 drug suspects surrendering to the police and the barangays.