Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo—In the second month of the implemention of Project Double Barrel “Oplan Tokhang” the Philippine National Police in Region VIII said 16,583 illegal drug users and 2,107 pushers have surrendered.
A total of 18,690 individuals surrendered to the different provincial police offices. The Leyte PPO recorded 5,609; the Southern Leyte PPO, 4,449; the Biliran PPO, 547; the Samar PPO, 1,121; the Eastern Samar PPO, 2,685; the Northern Samar PPO, 1,205; the Ormoc CPO, 2,089; and the Tacloban CPO, 985.
Police Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, the acting regional director of PRO8, said he is expecting more drug personalities to surrender as the lower barrel of Project Tokhang is being vigorously implemented regionwide.
Beltejar vowed to sustain activities and programs to further educate and rehabilitate illegal drug personalities who surrendered to every police station in collaboration with stakeholders and other government agencies.
The rehabilitation program of the PNP has two phases—education and rehabilitation. The first three months focus on character development through psychological and psychotherapeutic treatment. The next three months will focus on skills training and livelihood development in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other stakeholders.