By Jonathan L. Mayuga, March 8 2019; Business Mirror
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/03/08/ano-backs-ncrpo-chiefs-handling-of-police-misfits/
Image Credit to Manila Bulletin
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Maj. General Guillermo Eleazar has found a strong ally in Secretary Eduardo M. Año of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) over his controversial treatment of so-called
kotong cops.
In a news statement, Año said he personally supports Eleazar in his drive to rid the NCRPO of police misfits.
“His action yesterday [Wednesday] was simply a manifestation of his frustration over police scalawags in his unit who continue to tarnish the image of the entire Philippine National Police [PNP],” Año said.
The DILG chief was reacting to an incident wherein Eleazar grabbed Police Cpl. Marlo Quibete’s face, pulled his hair, and berated him in front of the media and other policemen after his arrest for alleged extortion.
A member of the Eastern Police District’s Drug Enforcement Unit, Quibete was arrested after allegedly demanding P200,000 from a drug suspect.
President Duterte had also issued a statement backing Eleazar.
According to Año, there is no place in the PNP for police scalawags, especially those who extort money from drug personalities.
“They are not only a disgrace to their uniform but to the good men and women of the PNP, many of whom have given their lives in the relentless antidrug campaign of the administration,” he said.
While Eleazar has already publicly apologized for his outburst, Año said his action was understandable given the circumstances.
“It was a classic case of a ‘father losing his cool over his son’s misbehavior’ with the goal of correcting it and sending a message to his other children that bad behavior will not be tolerated in his household.
Notwithstanding, I hereby direct the PNP under Police General Oscar Albayalde to intensify its internal cleansing program until all the bad eggs and rotten cops of the police service are weeded out,” Año said.
The DILG chief has also ordered the Counter Intelligence Task Force to work overtime to finally rid the police service of what he describes as “undesirables.”
“Let us prove to the President that we are worthy of the doubling of our salaries. More important, let us prove to the public and to the critics that we are on our way of ridding the PNP of corrupt police officers and that in the process of doing so, no one will be spared—noncommissioned officer or officer—all will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law,” Año stressed.
