Sual residents surrender guns to cops thru “Oplan Katok”

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

SUAL – The series of information dissemination dubbed “Oplan Katok” by the acting chief of police here bear fruits after several residents heed his call for the safekeeping by the cops of their loose and expired firearms.

FOOT PATROL & DIALOGUE. Cops lead by acting Sual, Pangasinan

 Chief of Police Senior Inspector Roderick Y Gonzales conducted foot patrol

 and dialogue with the stall owners along Padilla Street on crime prevention 

and the maintenance of cleanliness in the town. Gonzales exhorted his men to

 be more vigilant and alert as they would be expecting volume of people to 

come and watch the Miss. Sual Pageant.

“Operation Katok” was in compliance with the gun ban imposed by the Commission of Election for the almost120 days period before the May 9 national and local election and 30 days thereafter.

According to Police Senior Inspector Roderick Y. Gonzales, since “Operation Katok” or operation knock the doors started early this month, several residents complied with his call and surrendered for safekeeping their hand guns.

Illegal possession of firearm is a serious crime in the country.

Gonzales cited, for instance Village Councilman Gerardo Dulay from Brgy. Pangascasan here who surrendered his expired Caliber 45 pistol SAM-1911 with serial number S09981006 and Andres Babera Bordalo Jr., a retired Government Employee from Barangay Paitan West here voluntarily surrendered his expired firearm Caliber 380 pistol with serial number A000386.

Gonzales said his and his men’s aggressive information dissemination stance was by postings and distributions of decals and flyers at public places like barangay halls, waiting sheds of the various villages here with a statement on the consequences of being caught possessing loose and expired guns.

The chief of police , a former cadet at the elite Philippine National Police Academy, was a former security aide of the United States Military Attaché’ when he was assigned at the U.S Embassy and liaisons of former Chief of the PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao, former police general and incumbent Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil, and other countless police generals

Gonzales, a Bulaceno, last assignment was as the officer-in-charge of the pilgrim town’s Manaoag and as a member of the Special Action Force in Mindanao.