GENERAL Guillermo Lorenzo Tolentino Eleazar is hailed by many as one of the best officers to lead the Philippine National Police (PNP). Very true. He is so popular that the netizens are urging him to run for senator. No one before him became so popular in a brief time. That can be considered as the highest point of his career. The spotlight is on him daily. He is a media darling. Eleazar is from Tagkawayan, Quezon and comes from buena familia. He became friends with many Capampangans when he was assigned to Camp Olivas as head of the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). I recruited him as a member of my fellowship clubs, The Monday Club and Wednesday Club, where I am regarded as the "chairman emeritus."
Let me tell you a police story. Before the passage of the law creating the PNP, the members of the police corps were appointed by the town/city mayor. It was also the mayor who assigned ranks, promotions or demotions. There was no need for a college or even a high school diploma. Cops weren’t required to undergo civil service examination. Most mayors during those years only ask if the applicant already fired a gun and know how to shoot. "Matapang ka?" The standard question of most mayors. Until a certain general came up with a study of integrating all police forces and included the Philippine Constabulary. Later, the Philippine Constabulary was dissolved and it ended finally as PNP. This particular uniform service was given a fresh start.
I was a very young reporter when I was correspondent for a national daily and part of my beat was Camp Olivas. The camp was then the main headquarter of the Philippine Constabulary. It was the First PC Zone. It was headed by a brigadier general. I remember some names, the likes of Rafael Ileto, Emilio Zerrudo, Tomas P. Diaz, Romeo Gatan and many illustrious names who made the organization respected. The constabulary was the main police organization in the country. Even the local police were highly respected then. Kotong cops came later.
I love to recall this particular episode and I included it in my book SOMEWHERE IN CENTRAL LUZON. I was still in my shorts and the countrysides were far from peaceful. Huk Supremo Luis Taruc and bands of dissidents were all over central Luzon. The president was the late Ramon Magsaysay. The town mayor of Porac was Higinio Gopez, and the town police chief was my father. With no more than ten cops were responsible for maintaining peace and order. Gopez handpicked my father because he was a USAFFE soldier who fought in Bataan. He was there in Bataan with fellow soldiers, holding fort. He was captured and was one of the thousands who endured the war.
When war broke out my father was recruited in the USAFFE and was assigned in Bataan. Like many other Filipino soldiers, they fought side by side with the American Gis. Their ranks decimated and were no match against the invading forces. General Douglas MacArthur together with President Manuel L. Quezon left via submarine and when he reached Australia he declared: "I shall return." He returned as he promised but only after three years when the country was already in shambles and our fighting forces were captured and many killed. Luckily enough, despite malaria, my father survived but was captured and was one of those thousands who endured the death march. He was able to escape in Lubao.