PNP takes war on drugs to Forbes Park, Magallanes

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police yesterday brought Oplan Tokhang – the campaign to wipe out illegal drugs – to the posh Magallanes and Forbes Park villages in Makati.

Flyers containing information on the negative effects of illegal drugs were handed out by members of the Makati Police, accompanied by barangay officials and representatives of homeowners’ associations, to residents of the two villages.

The flyers also contained hotline and mobile numbers of the nearest police community precincts. 

Police officers who distributed the leaflets knocked on the doors of 26 houses inside the two villages, the Makati Police said.

Makati Mayor Abigail Binay said the anti-drug drive in the two villages was a good sign and she expects similar door-to-door campaigns to be conducted in other villages as well.

“I commend the barangay leaders and residents of the six villages in the city for weighing in on the ongoing war against drugs. I hope this is the beginning of your sustained cooperation and support to the campaign,” Binay said.

She earlier appealed to the village officials and residents to allow the police to conduct Oplan Tokhang inside their subdivisions, following a report that only one exclusive village – Magallanes – had permitted the operation. 

“The war against drugs can only be won if we extend our full cooperation with the police, especially in locating known pushers and users in our own backyard,” she said.

In Barangay Forbes Park, Indian Ambassador Lalduhthlana Ralte even invited barangay chair Evelyn Manotoc, Southern Police District director Senior Supt. Tomas Apolinario and Makati police chief Supt. Rommil Mitra inside his house.

Liga ng mga Barangay president councilor Armand Padilla, who is also chairman of Barangay Magallanes, said it was agreed upon during an earlier meeting with officers of the Makati Police, barangay officials, representatives of homeowners associations and other stakeholders that a joint anti-illegal drug information campaign called “Kapit-Bisig Kontra Droga” will be conducted in barangays Magallanes, Forbes Park, Bel-Air, Dasmariñas, San Lorenzo and Urdaneta.

“For every barangay, the concerned officials and village association representatives shall accompany local police officers in the conduct of house-to-house visits, during which we shall distribute information materials and other relevant advisories,” Padilla said.

In a letter to village residents, Padilla explained that the house-to-house visits were being conducted by the police so that they can subsequently declare the villages officially “drug-free.”

He also assured them that the joint teams will “take all precautionary measures and steps to minimize, if not totally avoid, any disturbance and discomfort that Oplan Kapit-Bisig might cause them.”

He noted, however, that any inconvenience would be “a very small price to pay in return for our peace of mind.” 

Padilla added that the information drive was their way of proving that “Makati village residents are all law-abiding citizens and are one with the government in its desire to combat illegal drugs and criminality in our country.”

All the six villages had certified that there were no drug pushers or users in their communities.

Based on the records of the Makati Police, the number of drug surrenderees from 27 barangays has reached 1,289 as of Sept. 1.

Meanwhile, 108 individuals – 56 users and 52 pushers – have been arrested.