By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will continue talking with the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the crafting of guidelines for the implementation of the “Oplan Katok” (Operation Knock) ahead of the May 12 midterm polls.
This is to ensure that the measure will not be used for harassment and intimidation amid the election season, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said in a media interview Wednesday.
“Ngayon tuloy tuloy yung pag-uusap ng PNP at Comelec para magkaroon ng common ground, magkaroon ng common stand, maipatupad yung mandato ng PNP and at the same time magawa ito na makakatulong sa ating halalan (Now the PNP and Comelec are continuing to talk to have a common ground, to have a common stand, to implement the PNP mandate and at the same time to do this that will help our election),” he added.
“Ang gusto lang namin, malatagan ng maayos na safeguards nang hindi ito maabuso at walang chilling effect sa ating mga kababayan (All we want is proper safeguards to be put in place without it being abused and without a chilling effect on our countrymen,” Laudiangco explained.
PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has defended “Oplan Katok” as part of the police force’s normal operations, stressing that the initiative was not meant for “political intimidation.”
Marbil said their “Revitalized Katok” is a lawful and proactive initiative aimed at ensuring responsible firearm ownership and preventing the proliferation of illegal firearms.
100 days
Meanwhile, Marbil said the 100-day countdown as part of preparations for the May 12 polls aims to raise public awareness on the prevalence of 3Gs (guns, goons and gold) and fake news that some politicians may use during elections.
“Marami nagtatanong sa akin bakit 100 days. Hindi po 100 days ang preparation namin. Nag-prepare kami this started nung nagsimula yung filing ng COC [certificate of candidacy]. Prinepare namin papaano namin lalabanan yung 3Gs, 1F (Many are asking why 100 days. We already started our preparation since the start of COC filing [in October 2024]. What we are preparing in these 100 days is how to combat 3Gs, 1F),” Marbil said in his speech during the launch of 100 days of operation activities and signing of solidarity pact between law enforcement agencies and its partners at Camp Crame Wednesday.
“Dati traditional guns, goons, gold, now with the fake news. Ang purpose bakit kami naglabas ng 100 days is for us to be aware. (Before its traditional guns, goons and gold, now, with the fake news. The purpose of 100 days is for us to be aware),” Marbil added.
Marbil has ordered to intensify operations against loose firearms and instructed PNP units to increase police presence in election hotspots to maintain peace and order.
“The purpose again is for us in the PNP, on the part of the PNP, bakit 100 days? Ang gusto namin (why 100 days? We want) specific target that we want to make sure that 2025 will be the safest election and to remind our people that this election is not only us but all of us,” he said.
“It is a shared accountability for a fair election. Sabi ng pulis natin sa Bagong Pilipinas ang gusto ng pulis ligtas ka (The police said under New Philippines, we want you to be safe) but with this election ang, motto natin is SAFE: shared accountability for a fair election,” he added.
Local absentee voting
Meanwhile, Laudiangco reminded voters who are qualified to avail of the local absentee voting (LAV) to apply until March 7.
He said the qualified voters to avail of LAV on April 28-30 are members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Comelec personnel and media members.
“Yun naman sa mga units ng uniformed services dapat makarating ang application ng unit hanggang March 10. Boboto tayo April 28, 29, 30 sa pagitan ng tatlong araw na yun (Those units of uniformed services, their application should reach us until March 10. We will vote on April 28, 29, 30 in three days),” Laudiangco said.
The LAV is a voting system that allows qualified individuals, who are assigned to perform election duties on Election Day, to cast their votes ahead of the general public. They are allowed to vote for the positions of senators and party-list organizations. (PNA)
