Lascañas: Sara Duterte initiated Oplan Tokhang as Davao mayor

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte supposedly came up with the “trademark” of Oplan Tokhang in Davao City when she was mayor there and allegedly ordered then-police chief Ronald dela Rosa to implement the violent campaign, retired police officer Arturo "Arthur: Lascañas said in a media forum on Wednesday.

“Hindi lang niya (Sara) alam 'yung gingawa ng kanyang tatay na bogus drug war. Nag-imbento talaga siya ng bagong trademark na extrajudicial killings in the name of tokhang,” Lascañas told reporters in a press conference, according to a livestream by Pilipinas Today.

(She was not only aware of what her father did, the bogus drug war. She actually invented a new trademark of extrajudicial killings in the name of tokhang.)

Philstar.com has reached out to the Office of the Vice President for comment and will update this story with their response. 

The self-confessed head hitman of the “Davao Death Squad” said that Dela Rosa told him that they crafted the Tokhang or “toktok hangyo” campaign against illegal drugs, which are derived from Bisaya words for knock (tok) and plead (hangyo).

“Sinabi sa akin ni Bato Dela Rosa na nagcraft sila ng panibagong EJK campaign against illegal drugs, which is toktok hangyo - meaning Tokhang,” Lascañas said.

Lascañas added that the Tokhang order came from the vice president who was then-Davao City mayor after she was repeatedly asked by media to comment on crimes committed by motorcycle-in-riding tandems. 

“Kasi ayaw ni Inday Sara na palagi ini-interview ng media na tinatanong about itong motorcycle riding in tandem sa Davao. Ang daming namamatay at walang nag-i-imbestiga,” he added.

(Because Inday Sara doesn't want to be interviewed by the media asking about this motorbike riding in tandem in Davao. Many are dying and no one is investigating).

“Dito na-confirm ko kay Sara at SP04 Sonny Buenaventura 'yung order sa akin ni Bato Dela Rosa about oplan tokhang, Kung papayag ba si Mayor (Sara) dito. Kinonfirm niya personal sa akin at kay Sonny Buenaventura,” Lascañas added.

(Here I confirmed from Sara and SP04 Sonny Buenaventura the order given to me by Bato Dela Rosa about the tokhang plan. If the Mayor (Sara) will agree to