RETIRED Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar filed on Monday, November 15, his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator via substitution.
Eleazar, who just retired as PNP chief last Saturday, November 13, after 38 years of service, is running for the Senate under Partido Reporma, the political party of presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson.
He personally filed his COC at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Intramuros, Manila as substitute for Paolo Capino, who withdrew his candidacy over the weekend.
“Pormal na tayong naghain ng ating kandidatura sa pagka senador para sa halalan sa 2022,” he said in a Facebook post Monday.
(I formally file my candidacy for senator for the 2022 elections.)
Eleazar joined Lacson’s party on Sunday, November 14.
He announced his decision to join the Partido Reporma on Sunday, saying he wants to serve the Filipino people.
“Today, I accept the challenge to replicate the brand of public service that we have shown in the Philippine National Police in the past six months. I accept the challenge to work for the vision of genuine reform and transformation for the Filipino people, and I accept the challenge to run for senator of the Republic of the Philippines,” he said in a statement Sunday.
“Sama-sama nating isulong ang ating mga adhikain para sa pagpapabuti ng ating bansa at ng sambayanang Pilipino,” he added.
Lacson, in a Facebook post, welcomed Eleazar, who he said is better than him.
“Nagtagumpay siya sa chief PNP. Alam niyo sa mga naging chief PNP, ipuwera niyo yung sarili ko, pero palagay ko mas magaling pa nga sa akin eh,” Lacson said.
“Ngayon ko lang na realize na six months lang pala siya and in the six-month period na nagsilbi siya, ang daming nangyari sa PNP. He is a performer,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)