LUCENA CITY—Philippine National Police Quezon provincial director Sr. Supt. Antonio Llarra reported that the number of drug offenders who submitted themselves to the authorities reached 13,793 after the implementation of the intensified campaign against drugs in the province.
Llarra attributed the huge turnout of drug personalities from various areas in the province to Project Double Barrel and its initial step OplanTokhang, named after the Cebuano phrase “Tok-Tok- Hangyo” or knock and request.
Quezon Police Provincial Office records show that in the 60 days since July 1, law enforcers visited 7,565 houses of drug suspects on its watchlist to request them to stop their drug habit and cooperate with the authorities.
Of the 13,793 surrenderees, 12,314 are users and 1,479 are pushers. The police office said 1,675 of them were on its watchlist and 12,118 were not listed.
Llarra said 274 operations were conducted and 303 drug personalities were arrested, 145 of this are users and 158 pushers. Also, nine drug personalities were killed in armed encounters with the police.
The Quezon police continue random drug testing to identify personnel using illegal drugs.