Former 'tokhang' cop denied Canadian residency

For allegedly being "complicit in the crimes committed by Philippine state authorities" during the implementation of former president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs almost nine years ago, a former Manila Police District (MPD) officer has been denied residency in Canada.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

Despite admitting participation in Oplan Tokhang operations for only three months from December 2016 to February 2017 when he was assigned with the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), Josue Limmong Ahuday was declared as "inadmissible" for taking part in "Operation Double Barrel" which the Federal Court of Canada described as "a well-documented state-sponsored nationwide killing campaign that encouraged police officers to shoot and kill anyone involved with drugs at any level, as a way to control crime."

In a decision dated Jan. 7, 2025, the court upheld an earlier decision of the Immigration Division rejecting the former police officer's residency application pursuant to the country's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), "for complicity in crimes against humanity stemming from his employment in the drug enforcement activities of the PNP (Philippine National Police)."

Judge Angus Grant, in his ruling, dismissed Ahuday's appeal and claims of insufficient evidence "that (he) was complicit in crimes against humanity" or that the former MPD police officer "did not engage in, and was not aware of or willfully blind to, torture or other abuses, and hence he did not voluntarily make a significant and knowing contribution to any criminal purpose held by any part of the PNP."