Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Sunday said that the PNP’s Oplan Revitalized Katok is meant to encourage firearm owners to renew their registration or to hand over their firearms for safekeeping.
Marbil also said these operations are not meant for “political intimidation” and will just help the PNP enforce the election gun ban.
The operations–which the PNP said is among its best practices in gun control–involve police officers making house visits and delivering formal notices for gun owners to renew their licenses or to deposit their guns with the police.
“Revitalized Katok is a year-round initiative to ensure firearm holders comply with the law. It is not, and will never be, used for political purposes,” Marbil said in a statement Sunday.
“The goal is simple—to keep communities safe and prevent loose firearms from being used in crimes. This program has effectively reduced the number of unregistered firearms in circulation, thereby lowering the potential for gun-related violence,” he added.
Marbil also said the operations are in line with Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, which requires the renewal of gun permits every five or ten years, depending on the validity of the license.
Marbil said concerns raised by Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Erwin Garcia have “no factual basis,” adding that the PNP has been conducting the operations for years.
The Comelec has called for a pause in the operations during the election period over concerns these could be used to intimidate voters.
“There is no agenda, no political bias, and no intimidation involved. Our reminders are purely legal and procedural, targeting only those with expired firearm licenses. Nothing more, nothing less,” he said.
“In the long run, Revitalized Katok strengthens our efforts to keep elections safe, as it prevents unrenewed firearms from being used for illegal activities,” he also said.
Reaffirming the PNP’s political neutrality, Marbil underscored their commitment to public safety through strict enforcement of firearm regulations.
“We are merely upholding the law. Those who claim otherwise rely on speculation, not evidence. Our priority is to ensure that firearms remain in the hands of responsible, law-abiding citizens and do not pose a threat to public safety, especially during the elections,” he said.
The election season for the May elections began last month with the implementation of a national gun ban and the setting up of Comelec checkpoints across the country.