Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) — Newly retired Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar has filed his certificate of candidacy for senator, replacing one of the initial bets of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
The country’s former top cop made the filing on Monday, the last day for substitution of candidates.
He will be running in the place of newspaper columnist Paolo Capino, who said on Friday he backed out because of his low ranking in surveys. Capino said he also asked Eleazar to sustain his advocacy to push for the rights of persons with disabilities.
The sixth PNP chief of President Rodrigo Duterte, Eleazar said he sought Duterte’s blessing for his candidacy despite joining a different group.
Eleazar said Lacson, also a former PNP chief and schoolmate at the Philippine Military Academy, is his “idol.”
Lacson, who is gunning for the presidency, earlier confirmed Eleazar is running under his party Partido Reporma.
Eleazar held the PNP’s top post for six months before retiring on Nov. 13.
