Retired police general and senatorial candidate Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar vowed on Wednesday, Feb. 16, to fight discrimination against women in their workplaces.

Eleazar said women have already proven their worth in areas where their male counterparts usually excels, citing cases wherein female cadets would finish on top of their classes in both the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and the PNP Academy (PNPA).

"Female workers should be treated equally with their male counterparts in workplaces to ensure that Filipinos would enjoy the right to excel in their chosen career paths regardless of gender," he said.

He also cited the 2020 Grant Thornton’s annual Women in Business report that was released in February last year which stated that the Philippines retained its rank and even improved its percentage when it comes to having more women in senior business leadership positions.

“These are but proof that if given the chance, women really make a difference, a big difference. But I also recognize that there are still a lot to be done in terms of leveling the playing field for women, especially those who came from poor families,” said Eleazar.

According to Eleazar, ensuring gender equality in workplaces should include individuals that are part of the LGBTQ+ community and this would mean that women, as well as those who identify themselves as females, should be free from discrimination and abuse.

While there were already laws passed to ensure gender equality, he said some of them are not strictly implemented.

When he was still in the PNP, Eleazar initiated various reforms to level the playing field especially for the poor, notable of them was the implementation of the QR Code System in the police recruitment system that shattered the culture of padrino and corruption and eventually paved the way for more poor but bright and deserving youth to enter the police force.