The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched an intensified version of its 'Oplan Katok' program, a door-to-door initiative aimed at identifying and recovering illegally held firearms. While the PNP emphasizes the program's commitment to ensuring a peaceful election environment, some organizations have raised concerns about its potential misuse for political intimidation. The PNP has assured the public that 'Oplan Katok' will be implemented fairly and impartially, with any officers found to be abusing their authority facing legal action.
The Philippine National Police ( PNP ) is ramping up the implementation of its revitalized ' Oplan Katok ' program, a door-to-door initiative focused on identifying and tracking down individuals illegally possessing firearms. This intensified campaign comes as the country gears up for the May 2025 local and national elections.
While the PNP emphasizes the program's aim of ensuring a safe and peaceful election environment by removing illegal firearms from circulation, some organizations have voiced concerns that 'Oplan Katok' could be exploited for political purposes, potentially serving as a tool for 'political intimidation.' To address these concerns, Police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Theresa Macatangay, the deputy city director for operations at the Cebu City Police Office, clarified that there is no political manipulation of 'Oplan Katok' within Cebu City. Macatangay pointed out that Cebu City has a history of peaceful elections, with no recorded election-related incidents. She stated, 'There is no reason to worry that Oplan Katok will be weaponized for any party's interests or cause in the upcoming elections.' However, she assured that any police officers who misuse 'Oplan Katok' to harass a candidate will be held accountable and face legal consequences. Macatangay explained that the program involves the PNP compiling a list of individuals possessing firearms with expired licenses and urging them to surrender their weapons. Since the implementation of 'Oplan Katok' in Cebu City, no complaints of police abuse have been reported. Macatangay emphasized that the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas is closely monitoring the situation and will take swift action against any PNP personnel who abuse their authority. 'The PRO-7 is on top of everything, and those PNP personnel who misuse their authority will definitely be charged accordingly,' she stated. According to Macatangay, designated police officers conduct 'Oplan Katok' by sending letters to gun owners and visiting their residences. If gun owners refuse to comply and surrender their weapons within the specified timeframe, the police will seek legal action by applying for a court-issued search warrant and potentially targeting the individual for further investigation. The ultimate goal of this intensified campaign is to prevent the use of unlicensed firearms by armed groups during the election period. The PNP aims to confiscate all loose firearms before the May elections to minimize the risk of election-related violence
Philippines PNP Oplan Katok Elections Firearms Security Political Intimidation Cebu City Police Abuse
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