THE government’s campaign against illegal drugs has now an interesting twist, with the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) declaring that he would focus on going after the “big fish.”
And PNP officer-in-charge (OIC) Lt/General Camilo Pancratius “Pikoy” P. Cascolan is seen to investigate with zeal and determination all those involved in the illegal but highly-profitable drugs trade.
In a television interview, the Baguio City-born Cascolan, who will serve as PNP chief for only two months, underscored the need to arrest the “big fish” or the so-called high-value targets (HVTs).
The chief architect of “Oplan Double Barrel,” the PNP’s flagship campaign against illegal drugs, Cascolan is a member of the Sinagtala Class of 1986 of the elite Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
It involves “Oplan Tokhang,” which is aimed at encouraging the surrender of small-time drug pushers, while “Oplan High Value Target” goes after the country’s big-time narcotics peddlers.
The top “Mamang Pulis” will also continue to pursue the police agency’s internal cleansing program as part of the Duterte administration’s program to bring back the old glory of the PNP.
Doubtless, there is that urgent need to rid the PNP of scalawags, misfits and other “rotten eggs” whose nefarious activities continue to tarnish the image of the men and women in uniform.
Of course, we agree that Cascolan’s two-month term of office is so short a time for him to address all the problems confronting the PNP, which is civilian in nature but national in scope.
But we, like other well-meaning Filipinos, are certain that the veteran army and police combat and intelligence officer is not a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy for nothing.
Talaga!
