VACC calls on PNP to stop ‘Oplan Katok’ amid election season

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on Tuesday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to postpone the implementation of its “Oplan Katok”,  a door-to-door campaign against firearms with expired license, during the election season as it could be used to threaten anyone.

“Para sa amin, this is wrong timing. Sana itapat nila ito kapag walang election period para mas kalmado tayo na nakita natin, talagang legitimate at anti-criminality ang ginagawa talaga nila,” said VACC President Boy Evangelista in Jun Veneracion’s report in "24 Oras."

(For us, this is wrong timing. They could have implemented it outside of the election period so everyone would be calm and view that the operations are legitimate and implemented for anti-criminality situations.)

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo on Monday maintained that the said operation is a “regular function” of the police body after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) lamented such operations could lead to abuse of powers by the policemen.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia on Tuesday raised his concern about the conduct of “Oplan Katok” ahead of the May 12 elections.

“Kasi kapag deputized agency ka, technically lahat ng ginagawa niyo ay pupwedeng mapakialaman ng Comelec. Sana lang ay kaagad na makipag-ugnayan sa amin ang PNP tungkol sa bagay. We will not oppose, we will not stop, but we will just reassess,” said Garcia.

(If you are a deputized agency, technically the Comelec can meddle in your business. I’m hoping that the PNP can discuss this with us immediately. We will not oppose, we will not stop, but we will just reassess.)

While a former executive of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) sees no problem with “Oplan Katok”, the PNP should not use this to forcibly enter a house.

“The ‘Oplan Katok’ cannot be used by the PNP to force entry into your house. Hindi naman ‘yan search warrant, hindi naman ‘yan arrest warrant,” said former IBP president Domingo Egon Cayosa.

For its part, the PNP agrees that the conduct of the operations should not be forcefully done.

“Nai-implement lamang po ito during office hours,” said PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Randulf Tuaño.

(This is just being implemented during office hours.)

Data from the PNP showed that 621,395 notices were issued to gun owners in 2024. Of this number, 16,473 have renewed their gun licenses and 10,676 firearms were turned over for safekeeping. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News