Lorenzana: AFP won't launch own 'Tokhang' operations

ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1456104" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>MANILA- Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday said soldiers will not conduct “Oplan Tokhang” (knock and plead) operations on their own and will only help others tasked to do so.</p><p>Lorenzana said the military will only provide support to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).</p><p>&quot;I assure that we will only be there if the PDEA or the PNP has asked us to go there because they need additional troops. That’s it. We will not be going there on &#x27;tokhang-tokhang&#x27;. No, we are not doing that,” he said.</p><p>“We will not go there and arrest suspected drug users and drug pushers na kami-kami lang na military. It will be…the PDEA will be making the arrest. We will be standing by on the ready so that when there will be firefight, we can assist them,” he added.</p><p>The PNP last Monday retook leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s war on illegal drugs.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/06/17/pnp-launches-less-bloody-drug-war">READ: PNP launches &#x27;less bloody&#x27; drug war</a></li></ul><p>Oplan Tokhang operations, wherein cops visit the homes of drug suspects and urge them to seek rehabilitation, will now be conducted only by town police chiefs, station commanders, and precinct heads, according to PNP chief Director General Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; dela Rosa. </p><p>Territorial unit commanders, he said, will be required to secure the coordination of barangay officials and local Church leaders before carrying out any &quot;Tokhang&quot; operation. </p><p>Dela Rosa also called on the Catholic Church to send representatives during operations in the hopes that the revamped campaign will be “less bloody, if not bloodless.”</p>

<p> Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday said soldiers will not conduct “Oplan Tokhang” (knock and plead) operations on their own and will only help others tasked to do so.</p>

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday said soldiers will not conduct “Oplan Tokhang” (knock and plead) operations on their own and will only help others tasked to do so.

Lorenzana: AFP won't launch own 'Tokhang' operations | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

News

Lorenzana: AFP won't launch own 'Tokhang' operations

Lorenzana: AFP won't launch own 'Tokhang' operations

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 09, 2017 09:12 PM PHT

Read More:

Delfin Lorenzana

war on drugs

Oplan Tokhang

AFP

PNP

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Advertise with Us

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.