LAWMAKERS led by House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez welcomed Thursday President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte’s appointment of Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

“Our new top cop is a man of action in resolving cases with swiftness. With his proven competence, I believe he will always uphold justice. His dedication, unwavering hard work and perseverance will further restore discipline and respect to the PNP as an institution. The President has made the best choice,” Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules.

Romualdez, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines (UP) and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), said he is very confident that Eleazar’s firm leadership guarantees the effective administration of justice and ensure peace and order in the country.

The Majority Leader also said he believes Eleazar will continue the higher intensity in the campaign against criminality, war on drugs, terrorist, cleanse the PNP with remaining scalawags and address other concerns on law and order.

“I know that Gen. Eleazar will always continue to affirm the PNP’s motto to ‘serve and protect’ and be a good example and advocate of the rule of law,” Romualdez stressed.

Deputy Speakers Mikee Romero of 1-Pacman party-list, Lito Atienza of Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay) party-list and Bernadette Herrera of Bagong Henerasyon (BH) party-list also lauded the appointment of Eleazar.

“I congratulate General Guillermo Eleazar, the newly-selected PNP Chief, who has long had a sterling track record as a police officer. He sticks to the facts. He has proven himself as a law enforcer who lets the law and evidence serve as the bases of his decisions and actions,” said Romero, president of the 54-strong Party-list Coalition

Foundation Inc. (PCFI).

“PNP Chief Eleazar has also been patient, prudent, and principled as he rose up the ranks. He has wisely avoided controversies. He has let common sense and fairness serve as his guides, earning the admiration of his fellow PNP officers and the general public,” Romero said.

Atienza said “I personally welcome the appointment of Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar as the new chief of the Philippine National Police.”

“Of all the appointments of President Duterte, this is so far the best. Homicide and killings are on the rise, PNP Chief Eleazar will have his hands full. We fully support him,” Atienza said.

For her part, Herrera said “I am elated that Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Tolentino Eleazar is the new Chief of the Philippine National Police.”

“General Eleazar was excellent in his stint as Quezon City Police District Director and enjoys strong rapport and goodwill among Quezon City residents like myself. He served us well in Quezon City and continued to serve as an exemplar police officer worthy of emulation and admiration by the entire police force,” Herrera said.

At the same time, Herrera urged Eleazar to update the public on the rollout of body cameras during police operations.

“With this, I ask the new leadership of the PNP under General Eleazar to start off on the right foot by updating the public about the roll out of the police body cameras. The required use of body cams in Philippine law enforcement is long overdue. We need to provide Filipinos with ample, appropriate, and technology-updated law enforcement and protection of civil liberties,” Herrera pointed out.

“Appropriate body cam use in law enforcement can protect the innocent and law enforcers and help mete out justice on those who choose to violate the law with impunity. Public trust in the police has been in distress lately because of the continuing involvement of some police officers in brutality towards quarantine violators, red-baiting of community pantry organizers, misencounter with fellow law enforcers, and planting evidence during raids,” Herrera stressed.

“Mandatory wearing of body cameras by police officers can somehow regain the trust of Filipinos in the police force,” Herrera added.