Oplan Tukhang: Dozens vow to stop illegal drug activities

Barangay Ermita residents trooped to the Ermita basketball court and made a commitment to stop engaging in illegal drug activity in their area. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

AT least 61 persons yesterday vowed to cooperate with the government and stop using or peddling illegal drugs.

Operatives of the Carbon Police Station in Cebu City yesterday conducted an Oplan Tukhang in Barangay Ermita in an attempt to convince those involved in illegal drugs to stop.

Fifty self-confessed drug users and 11 drug pushers obeyed the request. They were not arrested and no charges would be filed against them.

Chief Insp. Josel Corpuz, chief of the Carbon Police, said those who cooperated with them were being documented so the police can monitor them.

“We know basic informations about them. We shall monitor them,” he said.

Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta said he’s happy that the police personally visited those involved in illegal drugs to convince them to stop.

“We want to address the problem on illegal drugs. No one forced these people to cooperate with us. Let’s give them a chance,” he said.

One of those who came forward and cooperated with the Carbon Police was Benjamin Fuentes, a cohort of the slain drug personality Rowen “Yawa” Secretaria.

“Sige lang ko og tago-tago. Kuyawan ko. Moundang na gyud ko (I kept on hiding. I’m afraid. It’s better to stop [selling drugs]),” he told reporters.

He said he’s been selling illegal drugs to support the needs of his family.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña challenged the barangay captains in the city to strongly implement the campaign against illegal drugs in their area.

He commended the implementation of Operation Tukhang in Barangay Ermita, but also questioned its timing. “How come they were not doing this before? How come they were doing this only now?” Osmeña said in a press conference.

Osmeña blamed Team Rama village chiefs for being the protectors of drug lords in their barangay. “They know the pushers, but how many did they take in before?” Osmeña said.

Aside from Barangay Ermita, Barangay Tisa has already started implementing Oplan Tukhang by knocking on households in Sitios San Miguel, Nangka and Sacred Heart.

Tisa Barangay Captain Philip Zafra said the people were very cooperative with President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign in suppressing illegal drugs. A day after Duterte was sworn into office, Zafra said there were people who went to Tisa Barangay Hall and expressed interest to help point those involved in illegal drugs in their area.

“I do not know if they are drug pushers or what, but I guess they were afraid because of Duterte’s stance against illegal drugs,” Zafra said in Cebuano.

The people who came forward underwent profiling by the police to determine whether they were involved in illegal drug activity in their area.

Zafra, who is also Association of Barangay Councils president, said he started talking to other barangay captains to encourage them start implementing the Oplan Tukhang in their barangays in coordination with the police. / with UP Cebu Interns Morexette Marie B. Eram and Patrick Byron G. Gattoc