Anti-drug war nets 24,460 personalities in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 19 (PNA) – The number of surrenderers in the government’s anti-drug war has reached 24,460 in Eastern Visayas region, the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here reported.

The regional police recorded the number of self-confessed drug traders and users since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency on July 1 until last week.

These drug personalities yielded to authorities through “Oplan Tokhang” of the current PNP leadership. Tokhang is a combination of Visayan word which means to approach and persuade.

Of the total number of surrenderers, 21,910 are users and 2,550 are traders.

Leyte, the most populated province in the region, had the most number of surrenderers at 7,305 persons, followed by Southern Leyte at 5,196.

Chief Inspector Bella Rentuaya, spokesperson of the PNP regional office attributed the success of anti-drug war to the support of family members, who encouraged their loved ones to show up at police stations.

“We are still pleading the public that if they know one their family members that is still on drugs, to please advise them to surrender, to please stop using drugs,” she added.

From July 1 to second week of October, the PNP has conducted 414 anti- drug operations, leading to the arrest of 466 persons.

In these operations, the police seized 16,266.73 grams of shabu and 287.35 grams of marijuana with a total value of PHP130 million. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/DARA PEARL P. DACUYAN/EGR