DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Although supportive of the anti-illegal drug campaign of the government, the Department of Education said police and military personnel implementing the “Oplan Tokhang” operations are prohibited from entering school grounds.
Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, in a statement said that “with or without” drug problems, all schools should not be subjected to the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) “Oplan Tokhang.”
“The entire Department would like to iterate its steadfast support of PNP’s campaign against illegal drugs. However, we would also like to inform everyone that both DepEd and PNP recognize and implement the long-standing policy that prohibits, with or without the drug problem, police and military personnel from entering school grounds,” Briones said.
The education secretary also emphasized that DepEd has enhanced the drug education program, especially on the issuance of drug awareness guidelines as per order coming from President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to DepEd, it has also started a statistical sampling scheme, wherein students with parental permission and teachers tested will not be named. The ongoing scheme will determine the extent of the problem and by how much the size of the sample can be expanded.
Briones said the tests are being conducted to help rehabilitate and not criminalize students and/or personnel. She said if a teacher has been identified with the habit, the policy is to advice the teacher to take a leave to prevent harm on students and to undergo rehabilitation.(davaotoday.com )
