New PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar assumes the top cop position in the crucial juncture of the Duterte administration, even as the people who view him as a decent police official have very high expectations from him and expect him to effect quality change and reforms within the police organization.
AFTER being denied several times due to various reasons, P/Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Friday finally assumed post as the new chief of the more than 100,000 strong Philippine National Police (PNP) organization.
Eleazar replaced his classmate Police Gen. Debold Sinas who relinquished the post after reaching mandatory retirement age, during a formal turn-over ceremony held at the PNP Headquarters at Camp Crame.
He is 26th chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).The change of command ceremony was presided over by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.
Eleazar and Sinas were classmates at the Philippine Military Academy.
CHANGE OF COMMAND. Outgoing PNP Chief P/Gen. Debold Sinas and his successor new PNP Chief P/Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar exchanges salutes shortly after the former formally turned over the symbolic saber to the latter. At the center is Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano who presided over the change of command ceremony. (DANNY QUERUBIN) c
Trusted official
Eleazar is viewed by many observers as one of the most trusted and reliable top officials of the PNP due to his decent public image and numerous accomplishments.
He has been waiting for the longest time to head the police organization but did not show any resentments and opted to just do his tasks every time that he is not named to the post.
High expectations
In accepting his post, Eleazar becomes the face of the Duterte administration’s fight against criminality in this critical time, even as he said that he comes with the challenges of good leadership and meeting the high expectations of Filipinos.
He, however, assured that he is ready to face these challenges.
In his speech, Eleazar announced the launch of his intensified cleanliness policy (ICP), which is based on the broken window theory stating that small problems must be fixed immediately before getting worse.
Eleazar's ICP is divided into three main thrusts that would cover the entire continuity of reform such as the Intensified Cleanliness Policy in the Offices, Intensified Cleanliness Policy in the Ranks, and Intensified Cleanliness Policy in the Community.
The ICP in the Offices will ensure that all police precincts and stations are clean and presentable.
On the other hand, the ICP in the Ranks will focus on internal cleansing as well as the reform programs that will shield the organization from police scalawags.
Meanwhile, the ICP in the Community will focus on the peace and order situation in communities across the country. This will cover street crimes, illegal drugs, communist insurgency and terrorism, cybercrime and even the COVID-19 crisis.
The ICP was first launched when Eleazar led the National Capital Region Police Office.
CHANGE OF COMMAND photo by Danny Querubin
Vast experience
Prior to his new appointment, Eleazar served as chief of police of San Pedro, Laguna; provincial officer of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Batangas and Laguna; and chief investigator of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER).
He also served as the CIDG regional chief in Central Luzon and Central Visayas, where he waged a relentless campaign against organized crime and threat groups.
He also held administrative positions in the Directorate for Logistics and Directorate for Comptrollership, which honed his skills in logistics and finance.
Eleazar, likewise led the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group's campaign against online sexual exploitation of children and internet-based fraud and criminal activity.
Anti-crime operations
In 2016, he became the commander of the Quezon City Police District where he led the relentless anti-crime and anti-illegal drug operations that caught the public’s interest and attention.
He was responsible in the arrests of numerous criminals including rogue cops and neutralization of crime groups which earned for him the support of the public.
He also served as chief of the Calabarzon police and the first commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, the law enforcement and public safety arm of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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