Philippine National Police

Guillermo Eleazar is next PNP chief

Jairo Bolledo

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Guillermo Eleazar is next PNP chief

NEXT PNP CHIEF. Photo of Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar who was recently named as the new PNP chief.

Rappler file photo

(2nd UPDATE) 'Through a Napolcom resolution, Eleazar was recommended to be the next chief PNP based on seniority, merit, service reputation, and competence to lead the police force,' says Interior Secretary Eduardo Año
Guillermo Eleazar is next PNP chief

President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar as the next chief of the 221,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP), Interior Secretary Eduardo Año announced on Wednesday, May 5.

“President Duterte has just approved the appointment of Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar as the next chief of the Philippine National Police with the rank of Police General vice Police General Debold Sinas who retires on May 8, 2021,” Año said in a statement.

“I welcome the appointment of Police Lieutenant General Eleazar who is very qualified for the job,” he added.

Año said that through a resolution, the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which he chairs, recommended Eleazar as PNP chief to Duterte.

“Through a Napolcom resolution, Eleazar was recommended to be the next chief PNP based on seniority, merit, service reputation, and competence to lead the police force,” he said.

“I expect Police Lieutenant General Eleazar to lead the PNP organization to greater heights amidst the pandemic during these challenging times,” he aded.

Eleazar, the second most senior PNP official as deputy chief for administration, will replace the controversial Sinas who will retire on May 8, after serving as PNP chief for only six months.

Upon his installment as PNP chief, Eleazar will be promoted to the rank of general. He will also serve for six months as he is set to retire on November 13.

Malacañang confirmed late Wednesday afternoon that Duterte has signed the appointment of Eleazar as the new PNP chief.

“General Eleazar’s track record of professionalism, dedication, and integrity speaks for itself. We are therefore confident that he will continue the reform initiatives of his predecessors and lead the police organization to greater heights,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

‘Challenge accepted’

Eleazar will be the sixth PNP chief appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration has been hounded by allegations of police abuse in carrying out his war on drugs, as well as alleged police planting of evidence to justify arrests of red-tagged activists.

In a statement on Wednesday night, Eleazar said he is ready to meet these challenges and expressed his gratitude for being given the opportunity to serve his fellow Filipinos.

“To be appointed as the chief PNP is a rare opportunity, but comes with the challenges of good leadership and meeting the high expectations of the Filipino people. I accept these challenges,” he said.

Eleazar thanked Duterte “for choosing me to be among the instruments of his genuine intention of a having a well-disciplined and professional police force that could always be banked on in enforcing the law and in serving and protecting the Filipino people.”

“The same sincere gratitude is extended to DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año for always believing in my capability to lead the more than 220,000-strong Philippine National Police,” he added.

Eleazar had also previously served as deputy chief for operations and commander of the Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield, the main law enforcement unit of the government against quarantine violators.

Eleazar belongs to the ruling Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987, along with Sinas. 

The new PNP chief was in the spotlight in March 2019, when he confronted a cop who allegedly extorted money from the family of a drug suspect.

The then-Metro Manila police chief apologized for the outburst, saying he could not control himself because of his anger over what the cop had done. He said then that cops shouldn’t be “treated as babies” anymore, especially since he has repeatedly warned them to stop engaging in illegal activities.

In March, Eleazar ordered the relief of Lieutenant Fernando Calabria Jr., the police intelligence chief of Calbayog, Samar, for asking a local court for a list of lawyers of alleged communists. Eleazar apologized to the legal community for the concerns sparked by the police officer’s actions.

Among the four who had been floated to replace Sinas, Eleazar is nearest retirement.

The others are National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brigadier General Vicente Danao, one of Duterte’s most trusted cops; Police Lieutenant General Joselito Vera Cruz, PNP deputy chief for operations; and Police Lieutenant General Israel Ephraim Dickson, chief directorial staff of the PNP. 

Danao will retire in August 2023 while Vera Cruz and Dickson will both retire in March 2022. – With a report from Pia Ranada/Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Avatar photo

author

Jairo Bolledo

Jairo Bolledo is a multimedia reporter at Rappler covering justice, police, and crime.