(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, March 6, said he was backing National Capital Region Police Office chief Guillermo Eleazar.
Duterte issued the statement after a visibly irate Eleazar gave the Eastern Police District’s P02 Marlo Quibete, who had been arrested after his group allegedly extorted P80,000 from the live-in partner of a drug suspect, and took their motorcycle in exchange for the dropping of drug charges against him, a tongue-lashing before the media as he held him by the shirt.
Eleazar has apologized for his behavior.
“Sabihin mo kay Eleazar, okay iyon. Eh ano bang namang ‘yung ganun-ganun? Sumasayaw pa nga siya,” Duterte said.
“Sabihin mo, I have his back covered,” he added.
Apart from Quibete, the Philippine National Police relieved EPD director Police Brigadier General Bernabe Balba for command responsibility, and the district’s entire drug enforcement unit led by Police Major Allan Miparanum.