On his first command conference as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar ordered senior officers to ensure effective supervision of their respective commanders on the ground, saying leadership by good example discourages even the lowest ranking policemen to commit wrongdoings or be involved in illegal activities.
"Through leadership by example, all the subordinates of any commander would be forced to do good knowing that being lazy, being irresponsible, and being a scalawag will never be tolerated," said Eleazar.
He said effective supervision would complement his program of crushing the padrino system, or the use of influential people, in the recruitment of policemen across the country.
"Kahit inayos na natin ang recruitment system kung ang maabutan ng ating mga bagitong pulis ay ang maling sistema, wala ding mangyayari. (Even if we succeed in reforming the recruitment system, nothing will surely happen if they would be introduced to a wrong system in their first assginment)," said Eleazar.
During the hybrid briefing at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame on Saturday, May 8, Eleazar issued his command guidance in relation to this year’s thrust on peace and order as well as the police’s role in the government’s COVID-19 response.
He issued directives to all police units for the strict and systematic implementation of the Intensified Cleanliness Policy which ensures continuity of reforms in the organization and the bridging of gaps for closer ties with the community.
Eleazar also shared and exchanged ideas with the police commanders nationwide in further strengthening the campaign against street crimes, illegal drugs, insurgency, and terrorism.
Ways to ensure strict compliance by the public to minimum health protocols in view of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic were also tackled.
Discussed, in particular, during the meeting was the preparation of detention facilities in anticipation of more arrests based on President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive on the arrest of persons not wearing face masks in public places or those who wear them improperly.