Lapu-Lapu City police to tap brgy. chiefs’ help

Lapu-Lapu Police Chief Arnel Libed says some 400 drug personalities have already surrendered to police since June 30. (CDN PHOTO/FERDINAND EDRALIN)

THE Lapu-Lapu City police chief is seeking the help of barangay captains in the city’s 30 barangays to help them in conducting the Oplan Tokhang (Operation Plan Toktok-Hangyo).

Oplan Tokhang is the police campaign to visit known drug personalities in the city and ask them to stop their illegal trade or face the consequences.

Senior Supt. Arnel Libed said he, other cities’ police chiefs and the Cebu Provincial director were ordered by Chief Supt. Noli Talino, Police Regional Office Central Visayas director, to tap the help of barangay officials as they intensify the Oplan Tokhang campaign in the next few days.

Libed said that since June 30, the Lapu-Lapu police already logged 400 surrenderees in the first batch made up of 100 people.

“Although, we cannot really give an assurance that they would no longer go back into the illegal drug activity, but at least, we are able to do something and have their personal information, which is also essential for tracking them in case they commit violations,” Libed said of the suspected drug personalities that they plan to visit.

On those who already surrendered and promised to stop their illegal activities, he said that there’s a city government plan to coordinate with nongovernment organizations and those in the private sector to help these people seek alternative means of livelihood and assist those in need of rehabilitation programs.

He said it would depend on the needs of these people during their assessment.

Libed also encouraged his station commanders yesterday to follow what Chief Insp. Conrado Manatad of the Mactan police station was doing.

Libed commended Manatad for successfully persuading at least 50 drug personalities in his area of responsibility to surrender.

Libed said Manatad even went to some sitios and barangays and with the aid of a megaphone called on suspected drug pushers to stop their illegal activities and surrender to the police.