MANILA – Police Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan will make most of his two-month stint as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief hunting down big-time drug personalities.
Cascolan now leads the PNP until his retirement in November. He succeeded General Archie Gamboa, who bowed out Wednesday after nearly eight months in the post.
“Atin pa rin pong paiigtingin ang anti-drug campaign natin. Atin pong titingnan na ang high-value individuals ay dapat maaaresto. Ang case build up ay hindi lang dapat sa maliliit,” Cascolan said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo.
“Ang anti-drug campaign natin ay walang pinipili kahit sinuman. Kahit sinuman ho ay aarestuhin namin basta may violation,” the Baguio City-native added.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sinagtala” Class of 1986, Cascolan was among those who authored Oplan Double Barrel, which became the PNP’s flagship program in the war against illegal drugs.
The country’s new top cop also said the police force continues to evaluate the government’s anti-narcotics campaign to ensure that police officers are doing the right thing when conducting operations against illegal drugs.
Some 8,663 drug suspects have so far been killed under the government’s anti-narcotics war, according to a report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights citing official figures.
Cascolan, who spent most of his junior and middle rank years in various post in Western Visayas, aims to launch the “Lead, mentor, discipline” seminar for its personnel.
“Hindi naman po natin maikaila na may mga kamalian. Meron din po tayong evaluation ng ating mga units at kada indibidwal, opisyal man o hindi. Titingnan po natin kung tama po ba ang tinatahak ng ating mga tao,” he said.
Cascolan assured the public that policemen would abide by the laws they are enforcing when asked about National Capital Region Police Office chief Major General Debold Sinas, who got off the hook even after violating quarantine measures in April.
“I will see to it that everybody who implements the law shall be disciplined and should also follow the law we’re implementing,” Cascolan said.
His leadership earned the support of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
“Whatever he plans to achieve in his term, we are standing behind him,” said PRO-6 spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong.
Malong described Cascolan as a policeman with a big heart to his men.
“He is simple and practical yet very effective. The PRO-6 is happy that Cascolan is now spearheading the whole PNP organization,” said Malong.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte expects Cascolan to accomplish three tasks during his term – upholding the rule of law, remove corrupt policemen, and sustain the gains of the war on drugs.
“We are confident that the incoming chief of the PNP would continue the significant strides made by his predecessors in making the PNP a professional organization worthy of our people’s trust,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Cascolan would take over the leadership of the 209,000-strong police organization from PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa. Cascolan had been the second-in-command as the deputy chief for administration prior to his appointment to the PNP’s top post.
Cascolan will only have a brief term as PNP chief as he is set to reach the mandatory age of 56 on Nov. 10. However, it is within the President’s prerogative to extend Cascolan’s term./PN
