CHR: Continue war on drugs but drop ‘Tokhang’ | Headlines, News … – Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines The Commission on Human Rights on Friday urged the government to continue its war against drugs but without resorting toOplanTokhang.

"The Commission on Human Rights denounces the resumption of Operation Tokhang by the Philippine National Police," CHR said in a statement on Friday.

It added that the Philippine National Police should only reinstate the operation when concrete reforms have been introduced and after serious investigations into the extrajudicial killings have been made.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is open to the resumption of Oplan Tokhangless than a month since the Philippine National Police suspended anti-drug operations over the death of a Korean businessman allegedly abducted and killed by rogue police officers from an anti-narcotics unit.

"I dont know. I would leave it to the PNP to decide. What do they need? What do they have to do to succeed? I do not meddle in the mechanisms there. What is important for me is finish it, do it, I do not inquire into how, where, what," Duterte said on Monday.

Tokhanginvolves police going to thehouses of people on a list of alleged "drug personalities" and telling them to surrender or be arrested. Surrenderees are made to sign an admission of their involvement in drugs and a promise to stop. Concerns have been raised on the accuracy of the drug lists.

Tokhang has also been associated with more than 7,000 deaths in the war on drugs. Around 2,500 of the deaths were in police operations while the rest have been blamed on vigilantes and drug syndicates killing potential informers. Some of those killed were on the drug lists and had surrendered to authorities.

He added that it will be up to the PNP to decide whether to resume the operation or wait for a few months despite reports indicating a rise in sale of illegal drugs on the streets.

PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa, meanwhile, said that the resumption of the operation would still depend on the president.

"If he sees that we (PNP) are done with our internal cleansing, that we have cleansed our ranks and we are ready to take on the war against drugs, then maybe and hopefully (he will revive Tokhang)," Dela Rosa said during a speech in Zamboanga Citys 80th Charter Day celebration last Sunday.

CHR however said that the internal cleansing of the PNP has just begun and has not yet produced concrete results.

Police officers, whom the PNP leadership described as scalawags, were ordered transferred to Basilan. But some of the police officers questioned their inclusion on the list, saying their administrative records were clean. Other police officers did not show up for the transfer.

"No true and meaningful investigation has been concluded on the extrajudicial killings yet and worse, no single person, to date has been held to account," CHR said.

It added that the killing of South Korean national Jee Ick-Joo inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame only shows that Oplan Tokhang is "susceptible to abuse" by police officers.

CHR said that it stands up for the victims, both accused and innocent, who were denied due process.

"It (CHR) advocates for the rights of every single person, including every policeman or policewoman who deserves a day in court before being meted with sanctions including death," CHR said.