The Philippines Drug War, “Oplan Tokhang.”

In the Philippines, when President Rodrigo Duterte won the 2016 Presidential election, he promised to the Filipinos that he will make the Philippines a drug free country for the span of six months but as I observed until today, our country is not yet a drug free country. I’m still hoping for the best to happen within this year.

“Oplan Tokhang” was implemented by President Rodrigo Duterte to combat illegal drug related personalities that are involved in drug selling, distribution and the drug trafficking.

The known “Oplan Tokhang” came from the combined word, “Toktok” which means ” to knock” and “hangyo”, meaning “to persuade”.

This campaign was designed to warn illegal drug personalities, traffickers and suppliers. According to my google research, it is an approach under the campaign plan project called “Double Barrel” that focuses on relatively more prominent drug personalities including politicians, police and military personnel and other government employees.

As the campaign was and is well performed by police and military personnel/officers, I could see that the result is becoming more effective as days passed by. Two users in our apartment was forced to surrender because someone given up their names to the police in addition to their three friends living in front our apartment in fear of being killed. Some people say that the war against illegal drugs is not helpful but many says it help to lessen bad people in our society. There was a situation in our province back in 2011, the big brother of my classmate was imprisoned because of frustrated murder of his pregnant wife. The time the incident occurred, he was high on illegal drug called ” shabu”. When I asked him about what happened that time, he said he was shocked when he saw her wife bathe with her own blood so he surrendered and regret what he does. He said, Illegal drug can create a monster that you will not expect! Now he’s living alone because his wife left him after coming out from the hospital with their child and guess what, he never got the chance to see his child.

Drug can destroy a family in one blink of an eye. So for me, I fully understand and support the President’s intention even if other countries mocked him from his campaign and thanks to the countries which support him also. In this campaign, I have a positive impression that it will be a success in the right time with God’s help and guidance and the support coming from the people of the Philippines.

I’m telling you now to choose, NO to illegal drugs that can destroy your life and your entire family or DO illegal drugs and destroy your life. If yes, DO IT IN AN ISLAND THAT NOBODY CAN BE HURT BY YOU!