POLICE will no longer knock on doors of suspected drug users or pushers at night, after the Philippine National Police said it would limit Oplan Tokhang operations to the daytime and office hours.
Supplemental guidelines issued by PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa prohibit police from conducting any “tokhang” operations at night and weekends.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos said part of the stricter guidelines requires Tokhang teams to be in their proper uniform and led by a police commissioned officer during the conduct of operations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Carlos also emphasized the need for police to wear body cameras and similar video recording gadgets to document the anti-illegal drugs operations.
“When available, the use of body camera and similar video recording gadgets is highly encouraged in Tokhang operations,” said Carlos.
Those who voluntarily surrender will not be subjected to mug shots and fingerprinting, the guidelines state.
The guidelines also impose sanctions against police personnel for unwarranted violations.
“Any violations of this PNP supplemental operations guidelines shall be dealt with under existing PNP disciplinary mechanisms,” he said.
It is stipulated that Tokhang operations shall be intelligence-driven, targeting suspected illegal drug suspects listed by the Directorate for Intelligence.
The guidelines must be observed during house visits in support of anti-drug operations in communities, Carlos said.
In the visits, police are expected to persuade drug suspects to stop their illegal activities and enter a rehabilitation program.
Also on Wednesday, Dela Rosa said the PNP has been authorized to arrest any government employee caught gambling inside casinos nationwide.
“The problem isn’t a big one, but the President wanted to fulfill his promise to fight corruption, and gambling is associated with corruption,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino.
Before the policy was implemented, local government officials who were caught playing in casinos were simply asked to leave, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. chairman Andrea Domingo said.