Eleazar says no need for PNP major revamp yet

Philippine National Police chief General Guillermo Eleazar on Saturday said he doesn’t see yet the need to do a major reshuffle among key officers in the police force.

During the Laging Handa briefing on Saturday, Eleazar said the reshuffling of key PNP officers was based on retirements and was “very minimal” after his appointment as the national police chief.

“‘Yung sinsaabing balasahan ay kung mayroong mag-retire" (Reshuffling will only happen if someone retires), he said.

"Yung pag-retire kasi noon ng dating chief PNP na si Gen. Debold Sinas, definitely, ay malaking movement ‘yan, kasi nawala ang four star, at may isang iaakyat” (Ex-PNP chief Police Gen. Debold Sinas' retirement was a big movement because the four-star general needs to be replaced), he added.

While retirement remains the main factor for the reshuffling, Eleazar said he has the discretion to order a revamp among key PNP officers.

“I have that discretion or authority [to do so]." But that is something we should observe and assess, he added.

On May 7, Eleazar officially assumed the top post of the PNP.

After his assumption, he named Lt. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz as the new deputy chief for administration or the second-highest official in the PNP.

Vera Cruz was replaced by Lt. Gen. Ephraim Dickson as deputy chief for operations, while Lt. Gen. Dionardo Carlos will replace Dickson as the chief of the directorial staff. —LBG, GMA News