Number of drug personalities turning in to Eastern Visayas police climbs to 2,446

TACLOBAN CITY, July 8 (PNA) –- The number of self-confessed drug pushers and users yielding themselves to police in Eastern Visayas rose to 2,446 from June 29 until Thursday night, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported.

Of the 2,446 drug personalities, 516 surrendered during the Operation Tokhang (tuktok-hangyo). Tokhang is a combination of Visayan word, which means to approach and persuade.

Under the said operation, police knocked on doors of known drug traders and dependents, asking them to stop the illicit practice. The police and village officials have already visited 1,841 houses in the region.

The remaining 1,930 drug personalities surfaced at police stations. All of them signed an affidavit that they will not use or peddle illegal drugs again. They will be given counseling, livelihood training and undergo rehabilitation, if needed.

“With the number of people coming out, those in the illegal drugs trade will be compelled to stop the business since they are losing their market,” said PNP Eastern Visayas spokesperson chief inspector Ma. Bella D. Rentuaya.

The police will closely monitor these suspected drug pushers and users to find out if they will remain true to their commitment to completely abandon their involvement to illicit drugs.

“If they will not follow what is written in their affidavits, we will be forced to conduct police operations, apply search warrant and they should face the consequence,” Rentuaya said.

Of the 2,446 persons who have surrendered, 756 of them were from Leyte province, 61 from Biliran, 675 from Eastern Samar, four from Southern Leyte, 344 from Northern Samar, 218 from Samar, 279 from Tacloban City, and 109 from Ormoc City.

Aside from self-confessed drug personalities turning themselves in, the police also nabbed pushers and users through search warrant (11), buy bust operation (67) and arrest (124). No single drug personality was killed since the police stepped up its anti-drug campaign in the region.

In a statement, PNP Eastern Visayas regional director Elmer Beltejar said the region’s police force will continue its operations against drug personalities.

“The PNP anti-drug campaign operations have no timeline and it will never stop until said menace is totally eradicated in Region 8,” he said. (PNA)
PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO