OUTGOING Philippine National Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar yesterday called on the entire 222,000-strong police rally behind and fully support his successor, Lieutenant General Dionardo B. Carlos.

Gen. Eleazar, a member of Philippine Military Academy ‘Hinirang’ Class of 1987 will be replaced by Lt. Gen. Carlos, the erstwhile The PNP Chief Directorial Staff from PMA ‘Maringal’ Class of 1988 today.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año described Lt. Gen. Carlos as a very worthy successor to Gen. Eleazar.

A former PNP spokesperson, Carlos previously served as PNP Director for Integrated Police Operations in Visayas and in Southern Luzon, director of the PNP Highway Patrol Group and Aviation Security Group, head of the PNP Directorate for Information and Communication Technology Management, and head of the Directorate for Police-Community Relations. He also served as Regional Director of Police Regional Office 8 in Eastern Visayas.

The DILG chief said President Duterte’s decision placing PLtGen Carlos at the helm of the PNP is guided, as always, by cautious consideration of a candidate’s seniority, merit, track record, and service reputation.

“We expect the new PNP Chief to hit the ground running and intensify efforts to counter illegal drugs, fight criminality, and end the communist armed conflict in the country. We expect that he will set the highest standards for himself and the rest of the PNP organization on their performance and discipline specially on the goal of cleansing the police organization, leaving no room for scalawags,” the official said.

“We look forward with optimism that his leadership will bring about innovation and reform in the police organization in the fulfillment of the PNP’s duty to serve and protect the people, especially during the COVID-19 public health emergency,” he added.

The PNP also welcomed the designation of Lt. Gen. Carlos as the 27th PNP chief.

Gen. Eleazar earlier urged the 222,000-strong PNP to rally behind the new leadership under Carlos.

He has served a well-rounded career in all his designations to key positions in the PNP as Director for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) in Visayas, The Director for Police Community Relations (DPCR), Director for Information and Communication Technology Management (DICTM), Director of the Highway Patrol Group, Director of the Aviation Security Group, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 8 in Eastern Visayas; and Provincial Director of Police Provincial Offices in Negros Oriental and Quezon province.

Carlos is highly trained in special police operations particularly in crisis management and response, urban counter-revolutionary warfare, counter-hijacking, explosive ordnance disposal, VIP security and anti-terrorist operations.

Carlos holds two Master’s Degrees in Management from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and the Philippine Christian University (PCU).

He is elder brother to Rear Admiral Alberto B Carlos of the Philippine Navy.

He is a parent to son Samuel, 24, and daughter Eliana Nicole, 18.