Probe on ‘lapses’ should not dismay cops—Eleazar

PHILIPPINE National Police director general, P/Lt. General Guillermo Lorenzo Tolentino Eleazar, said policemen should not shirk from doing their job or get dismayed if a controversy erupted in the course of performing their duty as law enforcers that resulted to their being subjected to an investigation.

In a talk with the Journal Group in the course of his visit this June 29, 2021, Eleazar reminded his fellow policemen that as law enforcers, they are always reminded to perform their tasks in the right manner and within the bounds of the law.

He recalled that when he met with Pres. Duterte for the donning of his rank as a full (4-star) general in Malacañang after his assumption as Chief PNP last May 7, 2021, he was given two simple ‘marching’ orders: “Just do what is right and legal.”

“Ngayon, kung nagkaroon ng imbestigasyon, ang layunin naman nito ay hindi para ‘idiin’ ang ating pulis, bagkus, para malaman kung nagkaroon  ng ‘operational lapses,” he explained.

He also said that under his tenure, the PNP “should not hide anything” from the public.

“Wala tayong dapat itago dahil ang dapat lumabas ay ang katotohanan at para malaman din natin kung mayroong mga ‘lapses’ na puwede nating agad masolusyunan para na rin sa ikagaganda ng serbisyo sa ating taumbayan,” he added further.

Just recently, Eleazar ordered the relief from their posts and the conduct of investigation against 10 members of the Biñan City, Laguna, Police Office, after they allegedly engaged a local drug pusher in a shootout that also resulted to the death of a 16-years old teenager.

“I believe that there have been many instances where our policemen were unjustly ‘prejudged’ by the media and the public because a police operation has turned controversial– Chief PNP Guillermo Eleazar

Also killed during the alleged shootout in Bgy. Canlalay between the team of Biñan chief intelligence officer, P/Capt. Fernando Credo and the drug pusher, Antonio Dalit, 40, was Jhondy Maglinte, 16.

But while the investigation he ordered is not yet complete, Eleazar noted the initial update he has received disclosed that contrary to allegations that the two were “unarmed” and were even in “handcuffs” when allegedly killed by the police, Dalit tested positive for paraffin while Maglinte has shown no sign that he was handcuffed by the police during the autopsy conducted on them.

He added that despite his personal appeal to the victims’ families and the alleged witnesses to step forward and help him establish the truth, none has done so up to now.

“Naghihintay ako, kahit mga video footage kung meron, pero hanggang ngayon, wala,” Eleazar said.

In another incident in Laguna last May 21, 2021, where combined elements of the police and the military shot and killed a ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and two of his accomplices in Sta. Rosa City, the Chief PNP said he was also still waiting for the purported human rights group, ‘Karapatan,’ to back their claim that those killed were not terrorists but ordinary civilians.

Likewise, Eleazar noted that despite also his appeal for cooperation, Karapatan is yet to present proof that aside from the death of the 3 terrorists, the police also “abducted” and subsequently “salvaged” a youth activist who were purportedly with the group.

“Naghihintay ako, wala namang ‘lumulutang’ para patotohanan ang kanilang mga sinasabi,” he said.

“I believe that there have been many instances where our policemen were unjustly ‘prejudged’ by the media and the public because a police operation has turned controversial.

“Kaya nga ang utos ko, walang dapat itago ang pulis para maiwasan ang mga tsismis at haka-haka.

“Kung may mali ang ating pulis, parusahan, kung wala naman huwag agad pagbintangan lalo pa kung wala namang ebidensiya,” Eleazar said.