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13,127 drug suspects surrender under Oplan TokHang in Negros Oriental since July 1st - PNP

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 11 (PNA) -- A total of 13,127 self-confessed drug pushers and drug users have voluntarily surrendered to the police in Negros Oriental since July 1 last year following the government’s launching of its massive anti-illegal drugs campaign Project Double Barrel.

Also known as Oplan TokHang, the anti-illegal drugs campaign in Negros Oriental has also resulted in at least 17 or more suspected extra-judicial killings (EJKs) of alleged drug personalities.

The latest accomplishment report of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) as of January 10, 2017 showed that of the 13,127 surrenderers, 12,195 of them were drug users while 932 were drug pushers.

The municipality of Sibulan topped the list of the ten areas with the highest number of surrenderers at 1,146 (eight pushers and 1,146 users), followed by Guihulngan City with 1,056 (105 pushers and 951 users); Tanjay City with 1,030 (131 pushers and 899 users); Sta. Catalina with 855 (89 pushers and 766 users); Bayawan City with 846 (85 pushers and 761 users); Bais City with 842 (99 pushers and 743 users); Siaton with 659 (14 pushers and 645 users); Canlaon City with 626 (15 pushers and 611 users); Mabinay with 609 (29 pushers and 580 users); and, Bacong with 593 surrenders (five pushers and 588 users).

Dumaguete City, the provincial capital, registered a total of 511 surrenderers (61 pushers and 450 users) while Basay, the farthest town in the south, had the least number of surrenderers at 115 (seven pushers and 108 users), the police report showed.

Other areas with their respective number of surrenderers are: Amlan, 316 (10 pushers and 306 users); Ayungon, 303 (53 pushers and 250 users); Bindoy, 213 (40 pushers and 173 users); Dauin (one pusher and 508 users); Jimalalud, 331 (seven pushers and 324 users); La Libertad, 416 (21 pushers and 395 users); Manjuyod, 130 (seven pushers and 123 users); Pamplona, 292 (14 pushers and 278 users); San Jose, 400 (four pushers and 396 users); Tayasan, 228 (84 pushers and 144 users); Valencia, 536 (21 pushers and 515 users); Vallehermoso, 286 (11 pushers and 275 users); and, Zamboanguita with 279 surrenderers (11 pushers and 268 users).

Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas, the acting NOPPO director, on Wednesday said the police will continue to encourage pushers and users to voluntarily turn themselves in for documentation purposes.

He said the next step for the police this year is to start clearing the barangays of suspected drug personalities.

This will be done in cooperation with the barangay captains, Biñas said.

Binas said some barangays in Negros Oriental have already been identified as subjects for clearing operations.

Biñas also revealed that due to relentless operations under Oplan TokHang, the supply of shabu in the local market has dwindled over the past months.

This, in turn, has resulted to the increase in the prices of shabu in the streets, he said.

But he said there are still some people who persist to engage in the illegal drugs trade despite warnings from the police.

On extra-judicial killings, Binas said that while the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Oriental may have reported at least 17 cases, police records show there could be more than that although his office is still collating data from last year.

Biñas, however, assured that not a single police personnel in the province is involved or has been accused of participation in all of these supposed EJKs. (PNA)

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