https://www.rappler.

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How the 'new' Oplan

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) recently released new
guidelines for its most popular and most controversial project under President Rodrigo
Duterte: Oplan Tokhang.

Some 18 months, 8.8 million home visits, and almost 4,000 deaths in drug
operations later, PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa signed the Supplemental Guidelines for
Oplan Tokhang, which detailed, step-by-step, how the project should be done for a
"bloodless" war on drugs.

The memorandum reads like an instruction manual, leaving no space for possible
abuse. It divides the project into 3 phases: Pre-Tokhang, During Tokhang, and Post-
Tokhang.

We break down the instructions for the "new" Oplan Tokhang into 7 steps. Will the shift
be enough to stop the blood from flowing

Pre-Tokhang
CONFRONTATION. PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa faces with cops involved in the Tokhang-for-ransom
modus operandi. Photo by Ben Nabong/Rappler

1. Creation, updating of the drug watchlist

The drug watchlist is the bible of Oplan Tokhang. Without it, cops cannot operate, as
they can only conduct Tokhang against people on the list.

Before, the list had been modified haphazardly. Names were added by local police and
officials themselves.
Under the new rules, only names validated by the PNP's Directorate for Intelligence (DI)
can be added to the list. Names not validated should be queued for further validation.

2. Creation and training of Tokhang teams

Not just anyone can conduct Tokhang anymore.

All police stations and precincts should have select people taking part in the operations,
each vouched for by the local police chief.

Each team must have at least 4 cops, led by a commissioned police official – those
ranked police inspector and up.

Outside the uniformed circle, cops are required to bring with them at least one member
of the local anti-drug abuse council (ADAC), which is comprised mostly of local
government officials.

A PNP Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) representative or a civilian human rights
advocate should also be included in the squad, reminding members of suspects' basic
rights.

Once completed, the group will undergo a one-day orientation with "practical exercises
or role-playing" for them to remember the rules.

After completing the session, they will be recognized as their community's official
Tokhang team, or as the guidelines call them, "Tokhangers."

The local police chief is tasked to let the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA),
the media, and the community know who their Tokhangers are.

3. Pre-deployment preparations

Each Tokhang team is required to name a team leader who will gather all members
before every operation.

The team is required to meet with the station commander for a "pre-deployment
briefing." During the briefing, the team is expected to discuss which homes they will go
to.

The team leader must plan with the station and precinct commanders when to conduct
operations as they are only allowed to operate from 8 am to 5 pm from Mondays to
Fridays.
In instances that the operation would start before 5 pm (for example, 4:30 pm), but
would be expected to end past 5 pm, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Dionardo
Carlos advised that it should just be postponed to the next day. The general rule is
Tokhangers shouldn't be out before 8 am and after 5 pm.

Police should also remember to wear their uniforms before setting off.

During Tokhang
TOKHANG. Police implement Oplan TokHang, a literal door-to-door knock-and-plead operation that
targets suspected drug users and pushers. It aims to curb demand. File photo by Noel Celis/AFP

4. Knock then plead

This is the main component of Oplan Tokhang – knocking on drug suspects' homes
then asking them to surrender.

After knocking, a Tokhang team cannot enter a house without the owner's permission.

For houses without gates, the team should knock then plead for drug suspects to
surrender "in front of the door." For houses with fences, the team should knock and
plead "in front of the gate."

Cops can only talk to the person whose name is on the list, and they must not require
the person to sign "any document."

These encounters are "encouraged" to be recorded with body cameras once the
gadgets are available. Dela Rosa vowed to require this once all stations have at least
one camera.

5. Documentation and referrals

The operation can only go two ways for the drug suspects: either they surrender or they
don't.

If the person expresses "intent to surrender," the Tokhangers should refer him or her to
the nearest barangay hall, ADAC office, or police station for documentation. The drug
suspect should be accompanied by a relative or guardian to witness the procedure.

Once brought to any of those venues, the drug suspect will be asked to fill up a
Biographical Profile Form (BPF). But the giving of information should be "voluntary," and
a suspect should not be forced to fill up forms like the BPF or to have his or her photo
taken.

If a drug suspect expresses intent to get rehabilitation, Tokhangers should refer him or
her to the local government unit or to any concerned agency like the Department of
Health (DOH) or the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

If a suspect refuses to surrender, Tokhang teams are tasked to alert local drug
enforcement units, who will then begin a case buildup that may lead to another anti-drug
operation.

The Tokhangers need to be updated with the status of recovery of suspects in their area
of responsibility.

Post-Tokhang

PROCESSING. Cops gather at a police station to prepare for an anti-drug operation. File photo by Ben
Nabong/Rappler

6. After Activity Report, evaluation

Following the operation, an After Activity Report (AAR) must be submitted to regional
police higher-ups for consolidation.

Before they call it a day, Tokhang teams also need to assess their performance, then
share "best practices" from the field. These sharing sessions will be documented for
future reference.

7. Accountability

If any of the procedures are not followed, Tokhangers and their station commanders,
and possibly even regional police chiefs, would be punished.

The new guidelines emphasize command responsibility – the idea that the fault of
subordinates can be traced to the negligence of their leader.

The new rules set up a "one strike policy" to weed out negligent police bosses:
  Precinct and station commanders will be sacked if at least one Tokhang
team member fails to follow the new guidelines properly.
 City or municipal chiefs of police (COPs) will be sacked if at least two
precinct or station commanders under him or her fail to follow the new
guidelines properly.
 Provincial directors (PDs) will be sacked if at least two COPs are sacked
due to negligence.
 Regional directors will be sacked if at least two PDs or city COPs get
sacked due to "Tokhang-related issues."

According to the PNP, residents who spot cops violating any of these guidelines should
immediately report the cops to police stationswhere they belong to, or to local
government officials. – Rappler.com