TACLOBAN
CITY, Aug. 19 (PNA) –- At least 16,690 drug personalities have already yielded
to authorities in Eastern Visayas during the first 50 days of President Rodrigo
Duterte's administration.
The
anti-drug war has already killed 16 persons who tried to fight the police
during series of anti-drug operations in six provinces of the region, said
Chief Insp. Ma. Bella Rentuaya, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police
(PNP) Eastern Visayas.
"The
number of self-confessed drug dependents is surprising. There are many who
surfaced at police stations that are not included in our drugs watch
list," Rentuaya said.
Of the
nearly 17,000 drug personalities, 15,240 of them are users and 1,450 are
pushers.
Many of
these drug personalities surrendered during Operation Tukhang (tuktok-hangyo).
Tukhang is a combination of Visayan words, which means to approach and
persuade.
Under the
said operation, police knock on doors of known drug traders and dependents,
asking them to stop the illicit practice.
"Those
who surrendered are not detained, but they are closely monitored by our
intelligence unit with the help of village officials to ensure that they will
completely disengage from illegal drugs," Rentuaya said.
She believed
that these people came out for fear of Pres. Duterte's relentless anti-drug
war.
The official
assured that the PNP in Region 8 will continue their efforts to eradicate
illegal drugs in the region with the nationwide enforcement of "Double
Barrel" strategy.
The concept
is based on a double barrel gun, which fires two in just one squeeze of the
trigger. The operation will simultaneously attack big-time drug lords and
street-level trading.
The
"first barrel" is directed to those at the top, while the
"second barrel" is aimed at those in the bottom, which involves
reforming drug users who want to get rid of drugs.
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO
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