Duterte backs NCRPO chief’s outburst vs. rogue cop

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 — President Rodrigo R. Duterte approved of how National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Guillermo Eleazar handled a cop who was arrested for extorting money from a drug suspect.

“Yung isa was being — ano ni Eleazar and he was criticized for that. Sabihin mo kay Eleazar, okay iyon (Eleazar was criticized for that. Tell Eleazar, what he did was okay),” Duterte said in a speech in Malacañang during the first anniversary of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) on Wednesday night.

“Eh, ano ba naman ‘yung ganon-ganon? Sabihin mo (So what if it was like that? Tell him), I have his back covered,” he added.

Duterte said he told Eleazar his expectations from him when the crackdown on illegal drugs kicked off in 2016.

“Kasi nung pag-umpisa nitong drug war sinabi ko talaga sa kanya (When the drug war started, I really told him that),” Duterte said.

The President has repeatedly vowed to protect policemen but only if they perform their duties “in accordance with the law”.

However, he also warned that he will not hesitate to go after rogue cops who tarnish the image of the PNP.

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.

DILG, PNP chiefs speak up

Duterte’s sentiments were echoed by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año and PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde.

“I personally support Police Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Chief, in his drive to rid the NCRPO of ‘kotong cops’. His action yesterday was simply a manifestation of his frustration over police scalawags in his unit who continue to tarnish the image of the entire PNP,” Año said in a statement Thursday.

The DILG chief added that there is no place for scalawags in the police force, describing them as a disgrace to the institution and to its good personnel who continue to put their lives on the line to pursue the government’s campaign against crime and illegal drugs.

“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,” Año added.

Albayalde, meanwhile, said he could have done something worse if he was on Eleazar’s situation.

“For me, that is not enough. There are times when I really get furious and frustrated over the presence of rogue cops despite our internal cleansing,” Albayalde, a former NCRPO chief, said in a TV interview.

The PNP chief noted that since the start of the Duterte administration, a total of 2,528 police officers were dismissed from the service while 4,511 were suspended as part of the institution’s relentless internal cleansing program.

He also reiterated that the PNP is serious with its aim to enforce culture change and character transformation among police officers.

“We continue to ask for the media’s help because this way, we can emphasize that we are true and serious in our drive in wiping out scalawags within our ranks,” Albayalde said in Filipino.

In response, Eleazar said the President’s remarks prove that he is true to his promise of cracking down on rogue police officers involved in the illegal drug trade as well as those who take advantage of the war against drugs to make money for themselves.

“Based on the President’s message, our mandate has been established. The PNP is tasked with implementing an all-out war against illegal drugs and cops who are in one way or another involved in this illegal trade. This is why our current Chief PNP Oscar Albayalde launched our internal cleansing campaign — the primary targets being cops in the drug trade, and secondary targets being cops in criminal acts,” the NCRPO chief said in a statement.

Eleazar noted that while the PNP leadership will not let scalawags in uniform get away with their unscrupulous acts, it will also continue to recognize the hard work of those who are faithful to their mandate.

“We will (also) passionately thank and reward those good cops who have accounted well for themselves. We will continuously give due recognition to our achieving cops and I will personally reward these admirable cops. I truly believe that an ideal PNP organization can be a reality someday, soon. I know that when that day comes, our children can openly and proudly declare the words’ Pulis ang tatay ko’ (My father is a cop),” the Metro Manila police chief said.