Lacson: Eleazar starting on the right foot by cleaning up PNP

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday said that new Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar was starting on the right foot when he issued a stern warning against erring cops.

"The internal cleansing should be continuous. And P/Lt. Gen. Eleazar is right: it is good to start at the recruitment stage, to get rid of corruption and the 'palakasan' system," Lacson, a former PNP chief, said in a radio interview.

"Before you can go after criminals, you have to make sure the ones running after the criminals aren't criminals themselves," he added.

The senator meanwhile suggested that there needed to be a stricter policy on the wearing of police uniforms.

Lacson recalled that when he was PNP chief he relieved cops if they were not properly wearing their uniforms.

“Kapag maayos ang pananamit ninyo, maayos itsura, ‘di pa kayo nagsasalita panalo na kayo pero kahit anong ganda ugali niyo pero lax ang pananamit, wala kang sumbrero tapos ‘di pa naka-butones and uniporme, di pa nagsasalita, talo ka na,” he said.

(When you wear the uniform correctly, without saying a word you've already done the job. However, even if you behave impeccably, but you're dressed shabbily, you don't have your cap and your uniform is unbuttoned, even before you've said anything you've already failed.)

Lacson also recalled that in 1991, former criminals would allegedly pay P30,000 to become policemen in their home neighborhoods, thus infesting the newly created police force with "hoodlums in uniform."

The lawmaker also expressed confidence in Eleazar saying the new PNP could achieve much even with just a six-month term.

"I observed what he did, even when he headed the Metro Manila police. He is hardworking, making the rounds before dawn," said Lacson.

The view was echoed by Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in a separate radio interview.

“Kayang-kaya niya ‘yan dahil meron kami kasabihan sa PNP: It is not how long you lead but it is how you lead the organization,” Dela Rosa said.

(He can do it because we have this saying in the PNP: It is not how long you lead but it is how you lead the organization.)

“Kahit abutin ka ng dalawa or tatlong taon kung pakuyakoy-kuyakoy ka lang, pakamot-kamot ka lang ng bayag wala nang mangyayari sa PNP. Pero kahit six months ka lang pero seryoso ka sa mga programa, malaking bagay ‘yan,” he added.

(Even if it takes you two or three years, if you’re just going to be idle, if you’re just going to scratch your privates, nothing is going to happen. But if you are serious about your programs, even with just six months, that’s a big deal.)

On Friday, Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar Friday formally took over as the 26th chief of the PNP.

Several lawmakers welcomed Eleazar’s appointment as the new PNP chief.  — DVM, GMA News