Senators defend NCRPO chief’s outburst

Eleazar was caught on video when he collared, cursed and yelled at Cpl. Marlo Quibete, a member of the Eastern Police District’s (EPD) Drug Enforcement Unit, who was arrested and dismissed for robbery and extortion. (File Photo: PIO NCRPO/Facebook)

MANILA — Two senators on Thursday defended National Capital Region Police (NCRPO) chief, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar’s outburst at a cop who was arrested for extorting money from a drug suspect.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Eleazar’s “eruption” was understandable given the “feeling of embarrassment” the top cop must have felt for the “damning acts of his men.”

“Eleazar did right as far as I’m concerned,” Sotto said in a text message.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief himself, said he understood the frustration of Eleazar to rid the police force of scalawags or “kotong cops”.

“I understand his frustration and why he displayed such anger, having gone through the same experience almost 20 years ago. Between him and the extortionist cop, he is a no-brainer choice of a hero,” Lacson said.

Lacson recounted his first night as police chief back in 1999 where he “hit the ground running” with his anti-kotong campaign.

“There was this CHPG (Constabulary Highway Patrol Group) team who shot it out with a team of SAF (Special Action Force) personnel whom I tasked to kickstart a relentless operation against mulcting policemen. A SAF operative was killed while three others were wounded,” Lacson said.

“After I visited the wounded in the hospital, I proceeded to the police station where the ‘kotong’ cops were detained after being arrested. In anger, I wanted to shoot them myself and I remember doing almost the same ritual that P/Maj. General Eleazar did,” he added.

Eleazar was caught on video when he collared, cursed and yelled at Cpl. Marlo Quibete, a member of the Eastern Police District’s (EPD) Drug Enforcement Unit, who was arrested and dismissed for robbery and extortion.