The Commission on Elections is not in favor of conducting "Oplan Katok" during the election season. 

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia explained the move could lead to abuse and violation of rights.

"Eh hindi ba meron tayong right to privacy. Pagka ikaw ay pinagkakakatok ka lang na ganyan at may banta na ma-search ka na wala man lang search warrant, o kaya naman ikaw ay maarrest na wala man lang warrant of arrest, hindi po ba paglabag 'yun mismo sa Saligang Batas?" Garcia said in an ambush interview in San Juan City Friday, January 24.

"Sa akin po, hindi po dapat gawing kadahilanan ang atin pong halalan o ang paghahanda sa halalan upang ma-violate ang mga karapatan ng ating mga mamamayan."

Oplan Katok is an initiative of the Philippine National Police where members of the police conduct house visitations to advise gunowners with expired licenses to apply for renewal and encourage them to surrender their unlicensed firearms for "safekeeping" purposes.

Garcia maintained that what is important during the election period is to ensure "equal access, equal opportunity, and relative peace and order".

The poll body's chief clarified that they have yet to receive a request from PNP for the conduct of the said operation for the elections.

"Pasensya na po kung mayroon man pong gagawin halimbawa ang ating PNP but that is not sanctioned by the COMELEC and that may be, at this point, illegal," he said.

Should the national police seek COMELEC's permission, Garcia said they are not inclined to approve such, adding that the nationwide election gun ban is already in effect.

"Kung hihingi ng permiso sa Oplan Katok, mangangatok, at this point, walang dahilan na mangatok kung hindi naman dinadala ang baril sa labas," Garcia noted.

"If it is a legitimate PNP operation, so be it. But it is still subject to question at least before the COMELEC," the poll body's chief said.