President Duterte came to the defense of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar following the backlash he got for his outburst before a police officer involved in extortion.
Duterte made the statement after Eleazar was seen scolding hard Police Corporal Marlo Quibete of the Eastern Police District (EPD) drug enforcement unit (DEU) for allegedly extorting money from the family of a drug suspect.
In a speech in Malacañang Wednesday evening, Duterte said that what Eleazar did to the cop was just right because there are still police officers who are involved in irregularities.
“Ilan na lang natitira na puro matitino na? Kaya itong pulis, everyday there’s always an idiot nahuhuli,” he said.
“Yung isa was being — ano ni Eleazar. He was criticized for that. Sabihin mo kay Eleazar, okay yun,” he added.
“Eh ano ba naman yung ganun-ganon? Sumasayaw nga sila ng tao. Sabihin mo I have his back covered,” he continued.
Early Wednesday, Eleazar was seen grabbing the hair of Quibete to force him to show his face to the media. He then grabbed his collar and continued to admonish him.
Metro Manila’s top cop has apologized for his outburst but maintained that what he did was right because police officers should not be “treated as babies”.
“Humihingi ako ng paumanhin kung ‘di ako nakapagtimpi at nailabas ang aking emosyon,” he said.
“Kinwelyohan ko, tiningala ko ang mukha, at dinuro-duro ko. Eh dapat lang,” he added.
Meanwhile, Eleazar has also ordered the immediate relief of the chiefs of the Pasay police and the EPD over their subordinates’ alleged involvement in extortion attempts. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
