PNP says Oplan Katok not ‘totally suspended’
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has not “totally suspended” Oplan Katok, its door-to-door operation to get firearms holders with expired permits to renew their licenses, the law enforcement agency said.
This came in response to Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair George Garcia saying on Monday that Oplan Katok was “presumed suspended.”
“[H]indi naman technically totally sinuspend ’yan (referring to Oplan Katok) (That was not technically totally suspended,)” PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Tuesday.
“But because of the directives or the request ng Comelec to make sure na hindi maaabuso (of the Comelec to make sure it won’t be abused), the PNP issued additional guidelines,” she added.
READ: Comelec: PNP’s Oplan Katok ‘presumed’ suspended during poll period
According to Fajardo, additional guidelines included initially notifying holders of expired licenses in written communication forwarded face-to-face or through couriers, emails or text messages.
Garcia expressed concern last January that the PNP’s firearms control operation would be used against candidates in the 2025 midterm elections and their supporters.
The PNP assured the poll body that Oplan Katok would not be used to intimidate voters, issuing additional guidelines to address the Comelec’s concerns.
In an ambush interview on Monday, Garcia said he presumed the operation was suspended as part of PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil’s commitment to the elections commission.
READ: PNP to issue additional guidelines for ‘Oplan Katok’ to prevent abuse
However, Fajardo clarified, “[Y]un ’yung in-assure na commitment ng ating Chief PNP na hindi magagamit itong revitalized Katok in any form of intimidation and harassment.”
(That was what the Chief PNP assured in his commitment: that this revitalized Katok won’t be used in any form of intimidation and harassment.)
“But we also have to understand na itong ating national firearms control, which includes yung ating revitalized Katok, will have to be continued,” the PNP spokesperson said.
(But we also have to understand that this national firearms control, which includes the revitalized Katok, will have to be continued.)
