IN YOUR FACE – Hours after his murderous fit that was caught on video, Master Sgt. Hensie Zinampan is confronted on Tuesday by Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who vowed to personally monitor the criminal and administrative proceedings against the trigger-happy officer. (FILE / PNP PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar apologized on Thursday for publicly berating the police officer who shot and killed his 52-year-old female neighbor in Quezon City earlier this week, saying he should have been “more circumspect” with his actions.
Eleazar said he was enraged at how Master Sergeant Hensie Zinampan mercilessly killed Lliybeth Valdez in Barangay Greater Fairview on Monday night.
Investigators earlier said Zinampan was drunk during the incident.
‘Yung nakita natin na parang manok na pinatay itong isang lola o matandang babae na walang kalaban laban ay talagang hindi katanggap-tanggap. I would like to apologize for the outburst of my emotion. Pero hindi ko man din mapigil ‘yun,” he told ABS-CBN News Channel.
(How he killed a woman like a chicken is unacceptable. I would like to apologize for the outburst of my emotion. But I could not help it.)
Eleazar lamented how the crimes of erring police officers taint the image of the 220,000-strong PNP.
“Parang isang tatay lang na tinatangkilik ang mga anak na gumagawa ng tama pero sa kabila ng puro pakiusap, may walang hiyang anak. I’m sorry, I should have been more circumspect on my action,” he said.
(I feel like a father who is pleased with his children who do what is right. However, despite constant pleadings, there are still erring children. I’m sorry. I should have been more circumspect with my action.)
“Ang point ko lang kasi ay talagang walang hiya naman itong pulis na ito. Anyway, humihingi ako ng dispensa,” he added.
(My point is that this police officer policeman misbehaved. Anyway, I apologize.)
Eleazar, who also publicly berated other erring police officers even when he was the director of the National Capital Region Police Office, acknowledged that he has to change some of his behaviors as PNP chief.
“May mga dapat tayong baguhin. Ako na ang ama ng organisasyon at tama, may mga bagay na dapat tayong iwasan. I recognize that. Malayo sa pagiging perpekto ang aming organisasyon at ganun din ako,” he noted.
(I have to change some things. I am now the father of the organization and that’s right, there are things I should avoid doing. I recognize that. The PNP is far from perfect, and so am I.)
“Sinasabi ko nga sa inyo ay napakahirap ng challenges na pinagdadaanan ng aming organisasyon and personally me, having this very short stint as PNP chief ay kailangan po namin ang tulong niyo, so pangunawa ang hinihingi po namin sa inyo,” added Eleazar, who will retire on November 13 this year when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
(The PNP is facing many tough challenges. With my brief stint as PNP chief, the police force needs your help, so we are asking for your understanding.)