Advisers

Antonio A. Dawagan, PhD, RCrim

Discipline

Criminology

Abstract

Oplan Tokhang, launched by the Philippine government, aimed to address a significant public health and security crisis due to illegal drugs. The core question is whether the program alleviated or worsened the drug situation. This research evaluates Oplan Tokhang's impact on reducing drug-related crime in Barangay Pasong Putik, Quezon City. While some praised its success, others condemned it for alleged human rights violations. Our study therefore evaluates how the residents and police officers perceive Oplan Tokhang regarding its effects on public safety, police-community relations, and human rights violations. This study employed a quantitative research design, grounded in deterrence theory, to assess Oplan Tokhang's effectiveness through collected and analyzed numerical data. A self-made survey questionnaire, validated by an expert police officer who possessed comprehensive knowledge of the periods before, during, and after the implementation of the program, was the main data collection tool. Respondents included 40 Barangay Pasong Putik residents and 10 police officers from QCPD Station 16, selected via snowball sampling technique. Data were analyzed using Frequency and Percentage, Weighted Mean, Four-Point Likert scale, Ranking, and T-test. Based on the t-test results, Oplan Tokhang in Barangay Pasong Putik is perceived as effective in promoting public safety and sustaining police–community relations, as evidenced by the absence of significant differences in these areas. However, the program faces challenges in terms of human rights perception, where a significant gap exists between police officers and community residents. Therefore, while Oplan Tokhang contributes positively to crime reduction efforts, its long-term effectiveness depends on strengthening human rights safeguards, improving community dialogue, and enhancing transparency in police operations. Addressing these concerns may lead to greater public trust and improved cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the community. Findings show police and residents generally agree on Oplan Tokhang's effectiveness for public safety and police-community relations. However, significant differences emerged regarding human rights violations, with police perceiving compliance and residents seeing potential abuse. This highlights issues of transparency and trust, emphasizing the need for human rights-based policing and strict adherence to guidelines to prevent mistrust.

Keywords

oplan tokhang, drug-related crime, human rights violation