For retired Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and senatorial aspirant Guillermo Eleazar, the mental health of the policemen in the country should be given priority as well.
Eleazar, in a virtual press conference on Saturday, February 5, said that the issues on the recruitment scheme of the policemen in the country had already been addressed.
The problem, however, is that there are times that the characteristics of a policeman change upon exposure to certain circumstances, he said, adding that this is the matter that he wants to give attention to if elected as a senator.
Eleazar noted that the health services of the PNP had already been strengthened but admittedly the mental health program still needs a boost.
The former PNP top official said some police applicants who are not fit to join the organization slipped through the neuropsychiatric test as they are hired because of the people they know or the “padrino” system.
He stressed that there should be a regular neuropsychiatric test to assess who among the policemen are going through mental problems and needs help.
Meanwhile, Eleazar believed that the fact that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) was given a budget means the national government is serious in its aim of ending the local armed conflict.
He said that armed conflict has been existent for the last five decades.
Unfortunately there are reports that the task force is not properly implemented in some localities causing it to fail, Eleazar said, adding that the program is good if its purpose is served.
On the proposed mandatory military service for Filipino youth, Eleazar said the country needs a reserve force and “I believe this will develop their sense of patriotism and nationalism.”
This is good, he said, especially that “we have limited human resources especially in our uniform service.”
“We have a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and the Citizens Army Training (CAT) which we should enhance to develop our reserve force,” Eleazar emphasized.
Although he warned that the mandatory military service must be implemented properly while enough facilities, learning modules and training should be made available.*
Contributed Photo. Former Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar, who is running for senator, wants to give attention to the mental health of the police force if elected.