LIKE the officers and men of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the people support the designation of Lt/Gen. Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the nation’s top law enforcement agency.
This is not surprising since the Baguio City-born Cascolan, despite his many “monumental achievements” as a top police official, remains humble but still out to meet the mushrooming needs of the Filipino people.
He brings to his new post a wealth of experience in the fields of operations and strategic management as an officer of the defunct Philippine Constabulary and the PNP, which is civilian in nature but national in scope.
Known among his friends and relatives as “Pikoy,” Cascolan took over command of the PNP on September 2, when his mistah, Gen. Archie Francisco F. Gamboa,reached the compulsory retirement age of 56 years old.
The “strict but fair” Cascolan, a member of the Sinagtala Class of 1986 of the elite Philippine Military Academy (PMA), is set to retire on his 56th birthday this coming November 10.
PNP spokesman B/Gen. Bernard M. Banac said the men and women in police uniform welcomed Cascolan as their OIC at a time when the government is battling the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
“Refueling our energies and strengths at this time of health crisis is what we need in order to provide the best public service to our people,” according to the soft-spoken but highly-articulate PNP spokesman.
Since joining the defunct PC in 1986, Cascolan, who never thought of becoming a policeman because his first choice was to join the priesthood, has succeeded in balancing his personal life and work.
Due to some circumstances, he made a choice and followed his parents’ advice, but now “I am happy and contented.”
As an OIC, Cascolan may feel the constraints in the agency, but with the help of the people and well-meaning cops, he is seen to exert his best efforts to address the problems confronting the PNP.
