By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
It wasn’t long ago when I heaped praises on the most popular gentleman in police uniform, Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar. He had just donned the new stars on his shoulder when I described him – not as chief, but – as the “Michael Jordan” of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In my 30 years as a columnist, Firing Line hardly devotes its space to fan the narcissistic flames around popular leaders, much less refer to them as the GOAT (greatest of all time). But I am as guilty as many media friends before me, retired generals, government officials, and advocacy groups of making an exception for Guillor Eleazar.
Senate President Tito Sotto called him “the best choice” for PNP chief to the agreement of former PNP chiefs in the Chamber – Senators Ping Lacson and Bato dela Rosa. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año admitted Eleazar was “the only choice” he submitted for approval to the President. Metrobank Foundation counted him as one of the 10 Most Outstanding Police Officers in the Service (COPS) when nobody even knew him in 1999. NCRPO Press Corps members remember him as “the best district director” and the cops in Quezon City continue to strive to live up to the slogan he lived by and left as his legacy, “Proud to be QCPD!”
Retired general Julius Yarcia (former PNP intelligence chief) predicted that in his six-month stint as chief PNP, Eleazar would “make the foundation to bring back the glory days of the police.” And in that short period, Eleazar did not disappoint. He instituted the modernized e-Sumbong system, implemented a QR code system for police applicants, launched guidelines on joint operations with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and drove hard to equip cops with body-worn cameras. All these moved the PNP forward in terms of institutional reforms.
Yesterday, as expected, Eleazar filed his certificate of candidacy for senator, substituting for Paolo Capino, an advocate for persons with disabilities. He is running under the Lacson-Sotto ticket, with Sen. Ping expecting him to “bring his toughness on crime and police abuse to the Senate with respect to legislation relevant to peace and order.”
There is no doubt in my mind that the perfect officer and gentleman that is Eleazar will be a significant contribution to the august Chamber. Surely, if writing about him in this piece is my way of expressing gratitude for his accomplishments in the PNP, I could thank him much more by writing his name on the ballot.
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