PNP: Over 3000 have surrendered under “improved” Oplan Tokhang so far

Police officers hold an “Oplan Tokhang” or house-to-house campaign on illegal drugs at an informal settlers’ community in Manila on October 6, 2016. / AFP / Noel Celis/

By Mar Gabriel
Eagle News Service

Over 3,000 individuals have surrendered under the Philippine National Police’s “improved” Oplan Tokhang so far.

Based on data provided by the police, 3173 drug personalities have turned themselves in in 5,543 operations done from January 29 to March 1.

So far, the PNP said that 12287 individuals were now on its validated watch list.

Supt. Chai Madrid, PNP deputy spokesperson, said that if these individuals could not be subjected to Oplan Tokhang, they would be the target of illegal drug operations.

Based on PNP records, 102 individuals have been killed in drug operations from December 5.

Over 10000–or 10088—have been arrested.

The PNP re-launched the Oplan Tokhang program with revised guidelines in January.

Under the guidelines, operations can no longer be conducted at night time, and policemen should be accompanied by the media, among others.

The new guidelines were released after the police were heavily criticized for killings done by their rogue colleagues using the drug war as a pretext.