(FILE PHOTO) Retired PNP chief and Senate bet Guillermo Eleazar.
MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police chief and senatorial candidate Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar has assured local chief executives of his focus on improving the investigative and operational capabilities of law enforcement agencies as he stressed that peace and order is one of the strong foundations of economic development.
Eleazar was among the seven senatorial candidates who were invited to present their platforms for municipalities during the General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, headed by Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson on Tuesday night, March 1, in Pasay City.
“Kaya nga ang tutok ng laban natin sa Senado is to improve the investigation and operational capabilities of our law enforcement agencies, through modern approaches in crime investigation and the procurement of the state-of-the art tools to aid them, because I always subscribe to the idea that the best crime prevention strategy is the assurance that whoever violates the law will be caught and punished,” said Eleazar.
He then narrated about an event that happened when he was still a junior police officer.
Eleazar said that he was once asked by his superior to get a copy of the crime statistics of certain areas in what is now Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region to be presented to group of businessmen who were asking about the peace and order situation in areas where they would invest.
He said this practice went on that even some local businessmen and even property investors would ask for the crime situation in areas where they want to put up businesses or buy land and other properties.
“Indeed, peace and order is everybody’s concern. This is something that affects all people from all walks of life and I am sure that as local chief executives, you could attest na mahirap ibenta ang isang lugar sa mga business investors kung may problema sa kaayusan at kapayapaan,” said Eleazar.
“All of these experiences eventually became a realization that peace and order is one of the strong foundations of economic development which is now the focus of my platform as I run for senator of the country,” he added.
But Eleazar stressed that another essential element to ensure that peace and order will be maintained in any area is the the trust and confidence of the people on the police which translates to cooperation in crime prevention and crime solution.
He then emphasized the importance of consultative leadership which necessitates dialogues and interaction with the people and stakeholders in the community to directly identify their concerns to improve police services.
This is the reason, according to Eleazar, why he was known to be conducting inspections and dialogues with the people on the ground when he was still the director of the Quezon City Police District.
Among the accomplishments that Eleazar was known for was his initiative to make all police stations and offices clean and presentable in a move to win the hearts and mind of the people, the quick action on policemen who committed abuses, introduction of the nameless and the faceless recruitment through QR Code to address corruption and palakasan system in the PNP recruitment system.
As a result, the trust and approval ratings of the PNP went up significantly in just six months of his tour of duty as PNP chief.
“Kung nagawa natin ito noong ako ay nasa PNP pa, naniniwala ako na kayang gawin din ito on a larger scope of public service at ito ang baon kong qualification at karanasan sa ating layunin ng patuloy na maglingkod sa bayan bilang isang senador,” said Eleazar.
“Marami pa tayong planong gawin at tututkan na nasa aking legislative agenda, specifically in adapting to the life of living with COVID-19, particularly on the aspect of job creation, livelihood and health care measures na mararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan down to the city and municipal levels kaya nga I humbly ask for your support to make all these things happen,” he added.