TOKHANG RELOADED: No deaths, 43 druggies give up – NCRPO

Policemen accompanied by barangay officials visit the house of former President Fidel V. Ramos in Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa City in this file photo of ‘Oplan Tokhang.’ INQUIRER FILE / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Oscar Albayalde said Tuesday that police in Quezon City knocked at the houses of 147 alleged drug personalities during the relaunch of the PNP’s Oplan Tokhang.

Consequently, 43 drug dependents surrendered to the police, three refused to surrender, while the rest were not in their houses, Albayalde said.

The NCRPO chief said those who surrendered would be evaluated by the local government unit to determine what program would be offered to them.

“Hindi naman porket ikaw ay gumagamit, ikaw ay lulong na lulong na. Depende iyan kung pwedeng counseling. Kung minsan, may alok na livelihood program. Kung minsan naman yung skills development ng TESDA para magkaroon ng trabaho later,” Albayalde told Radyo Inquirer 990.

He said there were no reported injuries or deaths on the first day of the relaunch of the anti-drug operation on Monday.

“Walang reported na nasaktan o namatay. Naging maayos naman at tinanggap ng ating mga kababayan ang ating pagbabalik sa Oplan Tokhang,” Albayalde said.

During the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) 27th founding anniversary, PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the police would avoid the mistakes of earlier anti-drug operations.

“Let me assure the Filipino people that the PNP has learned its lessons, and learned it well,” Dela Rosa said. “Mistakes of the past will no longer be repeated. We will go out and win this war.” /cbb

READ: Bato: Mistakes in drug war ‘will no longer be repeated’