Oplan Katok not technically, totally suspended — PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday that Oplan Katok is not “technically, totally” suspended but more guidelines have been issued to avoid abuse.

“Hindi naman po technically, totally sinuspend yan (It was not technically, totally suspended),” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said at a press briefing.

“Because of the request po ng Comelec to make sure na hindi maaabuso, the PNP issued additional guidelines to make sure na we will comply with the instruction ng Comelec na dapat proper po yung paglakad po natin itong specific program na ito relating to national firearms control law,” she added.

(Because of the Comelec's request to make sure that it will not be abused, the PNP issued additional guidelines to make sure that we will comply with the Comelec's instruction that we must properly conduct this specific program relating to the national firearms control law.)

Under the additional guidelines, the PNP will include couriers in delivering notices to owners of guns with expired licenses.

On Monday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia said the poll body presumed that the PNP had suspended the door-to-door campaign against expired firearm licenses following its commitment to comply with election-related directives.

“Noong mga nakaraang pagpunta ng ating Chief PNP sa Comelec, nag-commit siya na ang buong organisasyon ng PNP ay tatalima sa kung anumang ipag-uutos ng Comelec,” he said.

(In previous meetings with the Comelec, the Chief PNP committed that the entire PNP organization would adhere to our orders.)

“And therefore, kung napansin natin wala tayong namomonitor whatsoever tungkol sa Oplan Katok at pin-resume namin na yan ay sinuspend ng PNP dahil nasa commitment ng ating butihing Chief PNP,” he added.

(As we have not monitored any ongoing Oplan Katok operations, we presume the PNP has already suspended it in line with their commitment.)

Fajardo said PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil made the commitment to make sure that Oplan Katok will be used for intimidation and harassment during the election period.

“With respect sa revitalized Katok, we heard it before, ang concern ng Comelec is kung maaabuso itong revitalized Katok natin particularly if the Katok will be targeting ang ating mga aspirants at mga candidates kasi maaaring magamit sila,” she said.

(With respect to the revitalized Katok, we heard it before, the concern of the Comelec is if our revitalized Katok will be abused, particularly if the Katok will be targeting our aspirants and candidates because they can be used.)

“At yun po ang in-assure na commitment ng ating CPNP na hindi magagamit itong revitalized Katok in any form of intimidation and harassment,” she added.

(And that’s the commitment our CPNP assured that this revitalized Katok cannot be used in any form of intimidation and harassment.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.