Marbil clarifies ‘Oplan Katok’ vs loose firearms is part of normal police duty

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil talks with reporters during the PNP Day celebration at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by JASON SIGALES / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil clarified that the law enforcement agency’s door-to-door operation to curb loose firearms, Oplan Katok (Operation Knock), is part of normal police duty.

The clarification came after Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia expressed concern that Oplan Katok could be used to intimidate candidates and voters in the lead-up to the May polls.

Garcia aired his stand at a news forum last Friday.

When asked by reporters at Camp Crame about Garcia’s remarks, Marbil replied, “Hindi. Ang kinakatok namin yung unregistered firearms. Hindi lahat ng bahay, kinakatok namin.”

(No. We only knock on the doors of those with unregistered firearms. We don’t knock on the doors of all houses.)

“I’ll discuss it with the chairman kasi normal na police duty natin. Oplan Katok, continuous ‘yan. Ang purpose niya is to really account [for] all the firearms,” Marbil explained in an interview on the sidelines of the PNP Day celebration.

(I’ll discuss it with the chairman because Oplan Katok is part of our normal police duty, that’s continuous. Its purpose is to really account for all the firearms.)

“Yan ang cause ng violence, ‘yung firearms,” the PNP chief pointed out.

(That’s the cause of violence, the firearms.)

At the forum last Friday, Garcia argued against Oplan Katok.

He said firearms are already prohibited under the gun ban for the official election period, suspending all permits to carry firearms outside residence (PTCFOR).

READ: Gun ban starts January 12 as election period begins – PNP

However, Marbil defended Oplan Katok: “It’s not prohibited by the election kasi trabaho naman ng pulis talaga to locate mga firearms and to account [for] mga firearms.”

(It’s not prohibited by the election because it’s really the job of the police to locate and to account for firearms.)

PNP Spokesperson and Police Regional Office 3 Director Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo told reporters that the police organization plans to meet with Comelec officials next Tuesday to discuss the door-to-door operation.

The gun ban started at the beginning of the official election period on Jan. 12.

The prohibition was launched in a bid to ensure peace and order and lessen gun-related violence in light of the midterm polls this coming May.