Push Admin

Bato: PNP should consider bringing back Oplan Tokhang

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Cops conduct " Oplan="" operations="" in="" Quezon="" City="" on="" Jan.="" Mark="" ABS-CBN="" News="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/12/19/20180129-pnp-tokhang-resumption-5703-md-7.jpg"/><figcaption>Cops conduct &quot;Oplan Tokhang&quot; operations in Quezon City on Jan. 29, 2018. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine National Police should consider reviving the controversial anti-drug campaign Oplan Tokhang following the &quot;return&quot; of drug syndicates in the country, a senator said Monday.</p><p>&quot;Yes, kung pupuwede. But then again, I cannot impose to them. They have their own program. We have to support them,&quot; Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; Dela Rosa told ANC&#x27;s &quot;Headstart&quot;.</p><p>Oplan Tokhang, a police strategy of literally knocking on the doors of suspected criminals, was &quot;effective&quot; in reducing crime, claimed Dela Rosa, a former national police chief who was the first to lead former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s anti-narcotics crackdown.</p><p>&quot;Matagumpay &#x27;yun. Our crime volume went down to almost 50 percent because of Oplan Tokhang,&quot; Dela Rosa said. &quot;Kaya tayo nag-wage ng war in order to make our environment safe and we achieved a lot.&quot;</p><p>(It was successful. We wage war in order to make our environment safe and we achieved a lot. )</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/13/22/duterte-concerned-on-return-of-illegal-drugs-bato">Duterte &#x27;concerned&#x27; on return of illegal drugs: Bato</a></li></ul><p>Duterte had openly ordered police to shoot dead drug suspects if officers&#x27; lives were in danger.</p><p>Some 6,200 people died in his anti-drug campaign, according to official figures. But rights groups estimate the true figure was in the tens of thousands. </p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte, has vowed to continue the drug war but with a focus on prevention and rehabilitation.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2386129" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div><strong>ICC PROBE</strong></div><p>In the interview, Dela Rosa also rejected the petition of an International Criminal Court prosecutor to resume its investigation on the drug war and Davao Death Squad killings in the Philippines.</p><p>Supporting ICC&#x27;s drug war probe will mean disrespecting the local courts, Dela Rosa said. He is one of the personalities included in the charge sheet.</p><p>&quot;Ang ating sistema gumaga naman. Bakit tayo magsu-surrender sa kanila? Get out, get out of this country! You are [not] needed here,&quot; Dela Rosa. </p><p>(Our system is working. Why will we surrender to them?)</p><p>Should the ICC continue its investigation, he admitted he feared the outcome because the war tribunal is composed of foreign judges.</p><p>&quot;Bitayin ninyo ako before a Philippine court, walang problema sa akin, kung talagang may kasalan ako,&quot; Dela Rosa said.</p><p>(Execute me before a Philippine court, I have no problem with that, if I&#x27;m really guilty.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/27/22/icc-prosecutor-seeks-resumption-of-probe-into-ph">PH justice system working? ICC prosecutor says ‘not substantiated’</a></li></ul><p>In September, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan urged the chamber to &quot;order the resumption of the investigation into the Situation in the Republic of the Philippines.&quot;</p><p>This, after the Philippine government had argued the ICC lacks jurisdiction to conduct the probe and that the alleged crimes are insufficiently grave to warrant further action by the international court.</p><p>But Khan was unconvinced, saying the Philippines failed to substantiate its claim that its justice system &quot;generally functions well&quot; and administrative proceedings &quot;may or can&quot; result in criminal proceedings.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

The PNP should consider reviving Oplan Tokhang following the 'return' of drug syndicates in the country, a senator said Monday.