A total of 595 individuals have been arrested in Metro Manila in separate operations conducted during the observance of Lent last week as part of a crackdown on drug dealing in the country.
The latest operations, involving anti-narcotics personnel of the National Capital Region Police Office in close coordination with the police district offices in Metro Manila, led to the arrest of 105 suspected dealers of the illegal substance and 490 drug users.
“The observance of Holy week did not stop the police operatives of the NCRPO to conduct anti-illegal drugs operations,” said Metro Manila police director Oscar Albayalde.
Albayalde said police operatives took advantage of the full alert status during the Lenten season in strengthening their surveillance and monitoring to the suspected drug personalities who continuously operate their illegal activities.
He assured that the operation will continue in line with the directives and guidance of National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa.
The NCRPO is also conducting an anti-drug campaign dubbed “Operation Tokhang” in all community and villages in Metro Manila to promote awareness on illegal drugs and to convince suspected illegal drug personalities to submit themselves to the authorities.
Tokhang (toktok-hangyo or knock and plead) mandates police station commanders to ask barangay captains to submit a list of residents known to be into illegal drugs, including pushers, dealers, users and couriers.
Albayalde said his men assigned to conduct the operation are working hard to appeal suspected drug personalities to surrender and to commit not to engage with illegal drugs activities anymore.
He reiterated his guidance to operatives to strictly follow the guidelines set for tokhang operations. Otherwise they will be sanctioned accordingly.
In 2017, a total of 228,395 suspected drug personalities surrendered to the police.
Meanwhile, the NCRPO also reported that incidents of theft and burglary during this year’s Holy Week dropped by 74 percent from 27 to 7 incidents compared to last year’s recorded data with the same period covered.
Albayalde commended all NCRPO operatives for a job well done and acknowledged the cooperation, alertness and vigilance of the people in the community.
He said that the NCRPO will continue its efforts to protect the public against criminality. “Peace is everybody’s concern. Let us help each other to get rid of these criminals.”