ILOILO City – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan wants to usher in a new era in the government’s so-called war on drugs.
The organization under his watch will not allow human rights violations, the country’s 24th PNP chief vowed.
“Our Double Barrel program has accomplished its mission to account drug pushers and drug users,” Cascolan said at the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) headquarters in Camp Delgado here yesterday, in his first visit to Western Visayas as the country’s top cop.
Cascolan was one of the police generals who crafted Oplan Double Barrel, the police’s bible in antidrug operations under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte which institutionalized Oplan High-Value Target and Oplan TokHang.
Oplan Tokhang was tagged in the killing of several small-time drug pushers.
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Real Numbers, a total of 5,810 people were killed in anti-drug operations since Duterte’s drug war began four years ago.
Cascolan acknowledged that some police officers went beyond and violated the rule of law and human rights.
“Some personnel abused their authority that’s why we have pending cases to be evaluated,” Cascolan said.
Under his watch, Cascolan said, he would focus more on powerful drug traffickers.
Cascolan also said relentless internal cleansing in the PNP will continue under his leadership.
“The police must work without corruption, never violate human rights and avoid being involved in illegal drugs,” the PNP chief stressed.
Cascolan will only take charge of the PNP for a period of two months. He will step down on Nov. 10 when he turns 56, in accordance with mandatory retirement age limit.
During his command visit yesterday, the PNP chief attended various activities: the ground breaking ceremony of the Police Commissioned Officers (PCO Barracks), ceremonial distribution of additional benefits for rebel returnees under E-CLIP program of the government, and a press conference with the members of Police and Defense Press Corp.
The PRO-6 personnel lead by Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan welcomed Cascolan with arrival honors.
The PRO-6 was also able to present its accomplishment on “Birada Semana,” Food Bank, Tokhang Kontra Armas Luthang and JFLAT.
Cascolan was also one of the principals in the ceremonial signing of the deed of donation for the new Iloilo Police Provincial Office lot from the local government of Passi City./PN
