BY IME SORNITO and MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – Narco-politics in the barangays is a source of worry for the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO). Some winners in the recent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections here have ties to illegal drugs, according to Colonel Joeresty Coronica, city police director.
Anticipating a surge in illegal drug activities, he plans to revive Oplan Tokhang that encourages drug users and pushers to voluntarily surrender for appropriate rehabilitation and get a chance to change their lives.
“This situation poses a challenge to us,” said Coronica.
The term “tokhang” is derived from two Visayan words: “toktok” (knock) and “hangyo” (plead or request). Combined, “tokhang” generally refers to the act of knocking on doors and pleading with individuals involved in illegal drug activities to surrender and stop their activities.
This term gained widespread attention during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, where it was used to describe a controversial anti-drug campaign. The campaign involved police officers visiting the homes of suspected drug users or dealers and encouraging them to surrender and undergo rehabilitation.
Coronica declined to say how many of the election winners have links to illegal drugs. The ICPO do not yet have a complete list of winners, he explained.
He also did not clarify the specific involvement of the winners in illegal drugs, whether as supporters, financiers, relatives, or actual users or pushers.
“I need to check with my intelligence officers. I know some [officials with drug links], and people voted for them. What can our police do?” said Coronica.
WARNING FROM MAYOR
Acknowledging the ICPO’s concern, Mayor Jerry Treñas warned barangay and SK officials.
“I expect you to stop any drug activities in Iloilo City. Your election as barangay officials will not and does not offer any protection for you,” he said.
Treñas reiterated his unequivocal support to the antidrug campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
“In our campaign against illegal drugs, there are no sacred cows,” said Treñas.
He also addressed questions raised regarding photos of him together with candidates with alleged illegal drug links.
“Since my office is open to everyone, almost all candidates came to my office to have their pictures taken, sometimes from competing camps and without appointments,” Treñas explained.
Thus the pictures, he stressed, “do not in any way show that my strong support to the anti-illegal drug campaign has waned, or that these candidates have my protection.”
“In line with our campaign against illegal drugs, I strongly recommend for all barangay and SK officials to undergo a drug test and to come clean before they assume office,” Treñas added.
‘SURRENDER NOW’
Prior to the Oct. 30 election, the ICPO urged 332,903 registered voters, including 96,466 SK voters, to reject candidates involved in illegal drugs.
What kind of support can the ICPO expect from barangay officials, especially in providing lists of drug personalities in their areas, if they themselves are involved in illegal drugs, asked Coronica.
Members of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) which oversee the campaign against illegal drugs in the barangay are also barangay officials, he also pointed out.
“So, we’re alerting all individuals involved in drugs, whether users or pushers. If you want to surrender, just go to the police station in your area,” Coronica said in an interview with DYOK Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.
The plan to revive Oplan Tokhang also comes in the heels of the Oct. 29 buy-bust operation of the ICPO’s City Drug Enforcement Unit and Police Station 1 in Barangay Concepcion, City Proper that took a tragic turn. A member of the city police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team died in a shootout with the subject of the buy-bust.
“I challenge the people of Iloilo City: Where does your support truly lie?” said Coronica.
Police Staff Sergeant Michael Malan, he stressed, was “an example that we, the police, are willing to sacrifice our lives for the peace of Iloilo City. Not all of us are from Iloilo City but we are ready to sacrifice our lives for our sworn duty.”/PN
