BACOLOD CITY — The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 assured the public of transparency and integrity in the implementation of “Oplan Tokhang Reboot” in Western Visayas starting January 22.
Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson of PRO-6, on Friday said the police will include barangay officials and faith-based groups in carrying out the “knock and appeal” to encourage drug personalities to surrender.
Gorero said “Tokhang Reboot” would become PRO-6’s best practice by knocking at the doors of suspected drug personalities, requesting them to surrender and avail of the free drug rehabilitation or intervention and after-care programs of the government.
The surrenderers will be given guidance to prevent them from returning to their old habits, making them god-fearing, law-abiding, and productive citizens of this country, he added.
Under “Tokhang Reboot”, anti-illegal drugs campaign drop boxes will be set up in police stations and barangay halls.
The public can submit names of suspected drug personalities in their area, and the information will be validated by the police.
Through “Tokhang Reboot”, the police in Western Visayas aims to determine the actual number of pushers and users of illegal drugs and encourage them to cease their illegal drug activity and resist the evil of drugs through the participative citizenry.
It also seeks to reintegrate drug surrenderers into the community and consider them as advocate for change and help them access opportunities such as employment, and to develop strong inter-agency and multi-sectoral relationship towards realization of a drug-cleared community.
“Tokhang Reboot” has six stages, as follows: first — collection and validation of information; second — coordination; third — house visitation; fourth — processing and documentation; fifth — monitoring and evaluation; and sixth — reintegration.
In forming its drug enforcement teams (DETs) in Western Visayas, the PRO-6 has initiated community vetting participated by the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils and other stakeholders in the villages. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
