By Jennifer P. Rendon
It might sound like a broken record, but the country’s police force is and should remain apolitical.
Philippine National Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar again underscored that the more than 220,000-strong members of the PNP should be free from political biases.
Eleazar issued the reminder when he spoke to members of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 during the celebration of the 120th Police Service Anniversary on Thursday, October 7, 2021.
“In the next few months, we will again face the challenge to defend democracy through clean and honest elections,” he said.
As he reminded them that the PNP’s allegiance should be to the Constitution and to the Filipino, he said that they should not place their loyalty on any political candidate.
“Bilang pulis ng mga Pilipino, ang ating pananagutan ay nasa taong-bayan. And that’s why the dignity and integrity of the Philippine National Police must remain intact,” he said.
Despite being highly visible, Eleazar earlier declared that he wanted to finish his term, effectively turning down calls to run for senator in the May 2022 elections as he wants to focus on his job.
PRO-6 was supposed to celebrate the police service anniversary, but it was postponed for two months because of the community quarantine restrictions.
More than a century after the Philippine police was institutionalized, Eleazar said the police service evolved from just purely enforcing the law.
This evolution, he added, could be seen lately in the role the PNP has taken during the pandemic.
“The true spirit of police service is not in Camp Crame. It’s not also at the regional headquarters or provincial headquarters.
The true spirit of police service is being celebrated every day in our police station where the public goes,” he said.
Police officers, Eleazar added, should seize opportunities that come their way to serve and to protect.
“Bilang mga pulis, buhay at kaligtasan ng bawat Pilipino, at kaayusan at kapayapaan ng ating bansa ang nakaatang sa ating mga balikat. This is what makes our profession noble and this is why our commitment to police service is important,” he said.
For Eleazar, the PNP did not fail the Filipino people on this role. He cited the 64 percent reduction in the crime volume in the past five years.
On top of that, from 26 percent, the crime solution efficiency has increased to 49 percent or an 86 percent improvement rate.
He also trumpeted the gains in the fight against illegal drugs with the recent confiscation of P6 billion worth of illegal drugs and the neutralization of big-time drug personalities.
“But this comes with a price to pay on the lives of some of our colleagues in the police service.
Let this celebration serve as an opportunity to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” he said.
Eleazar also reminded that much is expected from the PNP. As such, a lot of reforms have been done in a bid to gain the trust and respect of the people.
