PNP count back to zero at start of ‘Oplan Double Barrel Alpha’

The count of drug suspects killed and arrested in the government’s bloody drug war has been revised as the Philippine National Police (PNP) started implementing the second phase of its anti-drug campaign dubbed the “Oplan Double Barrel Alpha.”

The statistics the PNP issued on Friday showed only 11 persons killed and 376 arrested in anti-narcotics operations, as well as the number of surrenderers under the “Oplan Tokhang,” which was only at 1,235.

This was fewer compared to the data the PNP released last Wednesday. The previous count started from July 1, the first day of PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in office and the start of the implementation of Oplan Double Barrel.

From July 1 to October 26, the PNP recorded 1,725 drug suspects killed while 31,629 were arrested in a total of 32,909 anti-drug operations.

Meanwhile, a total of 751,703 surrenderers, 54,702 pushers and 697,001 users, turned themselves in to the authorities. Police units nationwide also conducted Oplan Tokhang on 2,626,126 houses from July 1 to October 26.

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Under the Double Barrel Alpha, the PNP tallied 11 drug suspects dead, while 376 were arrested in 254 police operations from October 26 until October 28.

Also within those two days, police visited 125,130 houses of drug personalities under the Tokhang project while 1,235 drug users and pushers surrendered to the authorities.

Chief Superintendent Camilo Cascolan, PNP’s Director for Operations, said resetting the statistics would encourage police operatives on the ground to “do their best again just like from the start.”

“This is for all units to think that we are starting. Kapag zero kasi parang nag-uumpisa palang. Siyempre operatives will do their best again just like from the start. (This is also) to rejuvenate everybody,” Cascolan told the media.

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Last Tuesday, the PNP command group and all regional police directors discussed in a command conference at Camp Crame the reinvigorated Oplan Double Barrel, which focuses on high-value targets, including those in the entertainment industry and government, involved in drugs. CDG/rga