CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela, Feb 22 (PIA) – Police authorities in this city have intensified operations against loose firearms through regular conduct of checkpoints and visiting registered gun owners that have not renewed their firearms for them to surrender their firearms to the police.

This measure will enable the police to ensure peaceful elections and stop election-related crimes during the duration of the 2013 mid-term elections.

The ‘oplans bakal, sita, katok’ of the city police started during the official campaign start of national candidates last February 12.

Police Inspector Larry Diaz, Cauayan City police community relations chief, said the city police has established and maintained checkpoints in the city.

Diaz said that since the implementation of Oplan Bakal and Oplan Sita, the police has not yet confiscated any loose firearms from motorists plying in the city streets while they are continuously conducting oplan katok on registered gun owners.

He said the gunholders are already aware of the campaign so they avoid committing violations.

The police and military are the two law enforcement agencies authorized by the Comelec to ensure peaceful and orderly conduct of mid-term elections.