Comelec, PNP in talks for Oplan Katok safeguards

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are in discussion to come up with guidelines for the safe conduct of the law enforcers’ Oplan Katok amid the poll season.

Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said Comelec chairperson George Garcia wants the PNP to add safeguards to its door-to-door campaign against expired firearms.

“Sinasabi naman po ni Chairman Garcia na nauunawaan namin yung intensyon ng PNP. Kaya nga lang po, ang pahayag po niya kailangan siguro madagdagan yung safeguards para masigurado na hindi maaabuso yung ganitong pamamaraan,” Laudiangco told reporters in an ambush interview.

(Chairman Garcia is saying that we understand the intentions of the PNP. That's why he said that maybe more safeguards are needed to make sure that this operation will not be abused.)

“So ngayon po, tuloy-tuloy ang pag-uusap ng PNP at Comelec para magkaroon ng common ground, common stand. Maipatupad yung mandato ng PNP. At the same time, magawa po ito nang makakatulong sa halalan,” he added.

(So now, the PNP and Comelec are continuously talking to have a common ground and common stand. The mandate of the PNP should be implemented. At the same time, it can be done in a way that will help the elections.)

Garcia earlier urged the PNP to suspend Oplan Katok for the May 2025 elections as it may have a chilling effect on voters and may be abused by some politicians.

In response, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said Oplan Katok is not intended to harass or intimidate anyone amid the election season.

“Regular function po ito as part of regulatory power, authority ng PNP. Particularly kapag mayroon tayong expired licenses po, bahagi ng ginagawa nating intervention ay puntahan itong mga nag-expire na pong licenses,” she said.

(It is a regular function as part of the regulatory power and authority of PNP. Our intervention to those with expired gun licenses is to visit them door-to-door.)

“We want to assure the Comelec ay hindi po ito sinimulan dahil sa election po. Even prior to the start of election ay ginagawa na po natin,” she added.

(We want to assure the Comelec that this has started even prior to the start of the election season.)

--VAL, GMA Integrated News

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