MANILA — Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia is urging the Philippine National Police to reconsider conducting house visits to gun owners with expired licenses, at least during the election period.
The PNP's "Oplan Katok" aims to encourage gun owners with expired permits to renew them or to surrender their unlicensed firearms for safekeeping.
Garcia expressed concerns that the operation could be susceptible to abuse and might result in violations of the rights of legitimate gun owners.
”Baka po kasi magamit para takutin ang mga botante... para mag-influence. Hindi po ba marapat muna na maitigil ito?" Garcia said.
He suggested that the police could resume the operations after the May elections, noting that confiscating firearms during this period would have minimal impact since a national gun ban is already in place for the elections.
Garcia also mentioned that the Commission on Elections is open to holding a dialogue with the PNP to discuss and refine the implementation of the program.
He also emphasized that everything that will happen during election period will be considered election related.
“[L]ahat ng aktibidad ng kahit anong ahensiya ng pamahalan, election related. Hindi nga sila nakakapag-distribute ng social services ng hindi nagpapaalam samin eh, hindi nga sila puwedeng mag-transfer, mag-reassign kahit na sino sa pamahalan nang hindi nagpapaalam sa amin,” Garcia added.
Garcia assured the public that all voters will be able to cast their votes freely in the upcoming midterm elections.
“Comelec will always do its duty to make sure that the voters are able to vote freely and conscientiously — hindi puwedeng naiimpluwensiyahan o tinatakot ng kung sino" Garcia said.
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