FURTHER intensify your campaign against private armed groups and illegal guns that could be used to disrupt the holding of peaceful and orderly May 12, 2025 national and local elections.

Philippine National Police chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil issued this order to all 17 Police Regional Office directors and heads of different PNP national operational support units ahead of the 2025 mid-term polls.

More than 18,000 national and local positions will be up for grabs in the May 12 mid-term polls with the country set to elect 12 new senators, 63 party-list representatives and 254 congressional district representatives.

Filipinos will also vote 82 governors, 82 vice-governors, 792 provincial board members, 149 city mayors, 149 city vice-mayors and 1,682 city councilors as well as 1,493 municipal mayors, 1,493 municipal vice-mayors and 11,948 municipal councilors.

A total of 32 parliamentary seats and 40 party-list representative seats will also be contested in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

From January 12 to June 11, 2025, the Commission on Elections will impose a nationwide ban on the unauthorized carrying of firearms. The 90-day campaign period for national candidates will start from February 11 to May 10 next year while local bets can campaign from March 28 to May 10.

Gen. Marbil ordered the stepped-up drive against private armed groups as well as illegal drugs and firearms as part of their preparations for the 2025 elections saying it is very important to target illegal firearms, drugs and PAGs that could disrupt the democratic process.

In line with this, the PNP has intensified their Oplan: Katok aimed at accounting for guns with expired licenses and permits as well as the conduct of checkpoints and other police interventions to recover illegal firearms at the hands of criminals and other lawless elements.

The PNP leadership said that the intensified operations private armed groups and loose firearms will be tightly enforced not only in Mindanao but also in all parts of the country as they will not allow anybody to use these armed elements for their personal interest.

The National Task Force on the Disbandment of PAGS said over 130 armed groups are being monitored in Mindanao alone by authorities.

Gen. Marbil said he has ordered his men to further intensify their intelligence-gathering to keep a close eye on all potential private armed groups as well as syndicates involved in gunrunning activities.

The top cop said they are making sure there will be no trouble or incidents that would affect the peaceful and credible conduct of the forthcoming elections.

“Our commitment is to safeguard the democratic process and ensure that the upcoming elections are conducted in a secure environment. By cracking down on illegal firearms, drug syndicates, and armed groups, we aim to protect our citizens and uphold the rule of law,” Gen. Marbil said as he urged the public to support their efforts by reporting all illegal activities in the streets and their neighborhoods to the police as soon as possible.

The PNP chief said that as part of their 2025 election efforts, they are working closely with local government units and other law enforcement agencies.

“This collaborative effort will focus on conducting frequent operations in hotspots of illegal activities. Measures include increased checkpoints, legitimate police operations based on credible intelligence, and community awareness programs to encourage public reporting of suspicious activities,” he said.

Gen. Marbil stressed the importance of taking decisive action to dismantle networks that enable illegal firearms, drugs, and private armed groups to operate.

He highlighted that this comprehensive effort involves intelligence operations, community cooperation, and strict law enforcement.