Argumentative Essay
Oplan Tokhang: War on drugs
“Life is a precious gift which god gives to humanity and
killing was a great sin”. Have you ever encountered the word “Oplan Tokhang”?
What is this all about? Is this really help to eradicate poverty and criminalities in
our society? How this related in drugs and what is the involvement of PNP
(Philippine National Police)? Random questions were arises which can get
awareness and enlightenment.
At first
I was so confused when I first heard a word “Oplan Tokhang” which launched in
public by the used of Mass media. The Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) has ordered the
Philippine National Police (PNP) to extend its ‘Oplan Tokhang’ program from
illegal drugs to illegal gambling on “War on Drugs”. But on the counter part of
the Catholic churches were not in favor to be implemented in the government
because of the violent result to people. They believe that life is genuine,
they preaches that life must be sacred.
So what
is an Oplan Tokhang? Oplan Tokhang, which means “knock and plead,” which the
police officer was, conducted operation wherein public peace authorities will
knock on the doors of the suspected drug users or pushers and ask them
voluntarily to surrender, however in reality it was far from the objective of
the PNP because some lives of innocent civilian was involves and take their
life unexpectedly. Tokhangers Police personnel who will implement Tokhang are
called “Tokhangers.” They were chosen by each police chief to ensure that
scalawags are kept out of the operations. The “Tokhangers” underwent
orientation and re-training which includes exercises and role playing to ensure
they know what to do on the ground. Each Tokhang team will have four members
led by a deputy chief of police. This program really has a positive objective
to be exactly in for betterment of society to lessen the drug user especially
the youth. But on the counter part, it was a tragic wherein more likely
innocent civilian was died in involvement on war on drug. Thousands of criminal’s drug users and pusher
was salvage and found out their dead body anywhere of the town.
The DILG
Secretary Ismael ‘Mike’ Sueno said “I also prod PNP to ensure that (Oplan)
Tokhang is not used or abused by policemen for their personal interests or some
sort of vendetta against their enemies. He makes sure also that Tokhang is
implemented for the sole purpose that it was conceived, and that is to round up
drug personalities and other criminals”.
From the 41,000 police operations conducted nationwide, estimates of
44,000 drug pushers and users have been arrested. Around 1million
self-confessed drug addicts have also reportedly surrendered, PNP estimates
show. According to Secretary Martin Andanar Presidential Communications said,
“It is evident we are hitting the mark in our campaign against illegal drugs,”
He added that the government’s crackdown on narcotics also “pulled down the
country’s crime rate by 32 percent.” These records are validity which means the
campaign of president Rodrigo Duterte was” Successful”. It is a one way to rub
out the lawlessness in our society and to exterminate the drugs syndicates or
addict users which have a dirty wrong doing and it used in transacting
business.
The
war on drugs was successfully implemented nationwide. Some civilians were chaos
from grief sadness and shouting for justice. We cannot deny the fact how
tremendous and violence will be results of the war on drugs on the part of
civilians and family of the victims. The successful implementation of the Oplan
Tokhang was an achievement of the whole Philippines National Police (PNP) and
Pres. Duterte on his part. However, some cases were found out that the
implementation was abusively and violent actions of the authorities were put on
action. Mostly victims are young people who are really influenced with peer
pressure which arouse with a curiosity. It’s because we cannot deny the fact
that there are some several issues which related to this are not appropriate or
has a negative result. Recently the some officer have involved with the murder
of innocent senior high student named Kian Delos Santos who was killed victim
of Oplan Tokhang campaign. Many Filipino netizen expressed outrage over Delos
Santos's death. Both the hashtag #JusticeforKian and the phrase "Kian
Delos Santos" were among the top Philippine trends on Twitter He’s parents
was dying with grief sadness and all of he’s friends never believe that Kian is
a Drug User. His family and friends was also stated that Kian is a loving-sweet
man and full of dream. How come that Kian would be a drug-user? But the PNP
stated also that Kian was under surveillance for many times and found out that
he was selling drugs. There’s some video footage which supported that Kian is
innocent. However, the Governments especially the PNP are not tolerated these
kinds of cases. They will investigate according to the law and the guilty will
be proved to the public. The families of
the victims are really begging for the Justice. This has earned the Philippine
government condemnation from both local and international human rights groups.
The PNP, however, maintained that the war against illegal drugs would still be
the top priority of the government this year. Let’s not support and tolerate some
sensitive issues which taking the innocent life. Let’s promote a healthy and
peaceful life.
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