The new chief of the Philippine National Police, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, has assumed office, with a warning against errant troops that they would hate him for being so strict.
During his stint as Metro Manila police commander, Eleazar was known for berating troops caught in cahoots with criminals. Before he replaced Gen. Debold Sinas last Friday, Eleazar was the chief implementer of quarantine rules in the capital as head of Joint Task Force COVID shield.
"You will hate me. Hindi ako magdadalawang isip na magtanggal ng mga tiwaling pulis dahil sa laki ng sweldo at benepisyo na pinagkakaloob ngayon ng gobyerno sa kapulisan, sigurado ako na madaming nakapila na para palitan kayo," Eleazar said.
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Speaking to reporters in Camp Crame in March 2019, Eleazar denied hurting an errant policeman, he said he just grabbed him by the collar (kinuwelyuhan) and looked the trooper straight in the eye to get his message across.
"Itong mga ito, hindi natin pwede beybihin yan, pero hindi natin pwedeng saktan," he said. "Humihingi ako ng paumaanhin kung medyo hindi ako nakapagtimpi."
That police officer was Mario Quibete, who was accused of extorting P200,000 from a drug suspect. Eleazar said that when Filipinos join the police force, they waive some rights for the sake of discipline within the ranks.
What he did to the policemen was "necessary" as is in similar cases.
"Humiliation is part of it. Kriminal nga hinuhumiliate natin, how much more mga taong nasa organisasyon na tatay, dapat ipakita to implement these rules and laws and yet tayo una nagviviolate," he told ABS-CBN host Boy Abunda at that time.
If there's one place where Eleazar drops his strict demeanor, it's at home, where he leaves the displicing of the kids to his wife.
"It's my wife na pumupuno ng aking pagkukulang. Siguro mas spoiled sila sa akin. I can't afford na maging mahigpit ako sa kanila," he said.
