Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. Image from PNP
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar as the next Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
Malacañang and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed this information Wednesday in separate statements to reporters.
“Gen. Eleazar’s track record of professionalism, dedication, and integrity speaks for itself. We are therefore confident that he will continue the reform initiatives of his predecessors and lead the police organization to greater heights. All the best to Gen. Eleazar as the new PNP Chief,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Eleazar, PNP’s current deputy chief for administration, is replacing outgoing PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas who is retiring on May 8. Eleazar and Sinas belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Hinirang” Class of 1987.
Prior to being PNP’s No. 2 man, Eleazar led the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, which implements quarantine rules and protocols, and served as chief of the National Capital Region Police Office.
He was also PNP’s chief of directorial staff.
Año welcomed Eleazar’s appointment as the next chief of the 220,000-strong organization, describing the police official as “very qualified for the job.”
Eleazar was the sole person recommended by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to succeed Sinas.
“Through a Napolcom resolution, Eleazar was recommended to be the next PNP chief based on seniority, merit, service reputation, and competence to lead the police force,” Año pointed out.
“I expect Lt. Gen. Eleazar to lead the PNP organization to greater heights amidst the pandemic during these challenging times,” he also said.
Año will lead the PNP turnover ceremonies scheduled on Friday, May 7.
Eleazar will retire this November when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.