A KNOWN basketball aficionado, Philippine National Police chief, General Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan is embarking on ‘solid defense and good offense’ in their stepped-up campaign against criminality, drugs, terrorism and rogues in uniform amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The member of the Philippine Military Academy ‘Sinagtala’ Class of 1986 in particular had said he wants his men to hit ‘3-pointers’ in their day-to-day work as he compared his vision to transform the police force to a well-coached basketball team which see opportunities and potentials for milestone amid the challenges and the odds under the New Normal.
“We know… we feel… the uncertainties of the public we are sworn to serve and protect. The day I’m given the task to lead you, my fellow public servants, I took it upon myself not to sit on the laurels of my decades of service.
I task myself that my whole career will be defined with a two-month service, faced with odds that require years to surmount. It’s a challenge I imposed upon me. A compelling inspiration and motivation, for it is during these times, more is expected from us. Ito ang pinaka-mahabang dalawang buwan ng aking career,” he admitted.
However, he said that “it’s not the length of my stint as your Chief… it’s the “results” that my leadership will bear, alongside each and everyone of you, will be written in this chapter of our life.
Together, let’s work with a heartfelt inspiration, motivation, and dedication to make this chapter truly a testament of service excellence,” he told his men whom he challenged to help him achieve new highs and help bring better service to the public.
‘TRES PUNTOS’
“Mahilig ako sa basketball, ito ang paborito kong sports. Bilang inyong Chief, habang hawak ko ang bola, ang nais kong ihatid ay Tres Puntos (3-Points). Depende sa kung ano ang iskor ng dikit na laban, aasinta tayo ng Tres Puntos. Ang Tres Puntos ay maghahatid sa atin ng ating panalo kung sakaling ang kalaban ay nanalo ng dalawang puntos,” he said.
Under his term, Gen. Cascolan said he wants his men to follow him to the hilt.
“Sa aking liderato, ano dapat ang mga kapulisan? Tres Puntos ang sagot ko…
Pulis ko’y… Responsible…Respetado….At Disiplinado.I expect no less. Our loved ones and the public we serve demand and deserve that,” he said.
The PNP chief said that in giving his nine-point agenda when he assumed the top PNP post last week, nothing is in his mind but the need to have a continuing and sustainable development plan based also on the three directives of President Duterte.
“He pointed out that we should get rid first of corruption in our ranks and that we will do that and it will be sustained and be maintained and supervised. Pangalawa, his first marching order in 2016: stop illegal drugs, and we will do that. Sa lahat po ng mga gumagawa ng mga kriminalidad lalo na ang illegal drugs, ang kapulisan ninyo po ay hahabol sa inyo at hindi po kayo tatantanan.
Pangatlo, following the rule of law. When you follow the rule of law, we follow and never violate the human rights,” he said.
Gen. Cascolan said that being in the middle of the war on COVID-19, the PNP needs to adapt a new mindset. “We now regard the communities to be in the frontlines. In their midst, the invisible enemy is where bullets are fired,” he said.
To do this, he called on is men to further enhance their cooperation and coordination with the community including the Armed Forces.
“We will no longer be regarded as just enforcers in the checkpoints. We will have more presence in barangays. We will be closer to the people in this fight. We will adapt a new hashtag. Today I declare #WeFightAsOne,” he said.
Gen. Cascolan coined the word ‘BaCod’ or short for Barangay Anti-Covid Defense which he likened to Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils of BADAC.
Last Friday, the PNP chief led the launching of their BaCod program to further ‘serve and protect’ the community while continuing an aggressive campaign against drugs and other crimes.
Gen. Cascolan said that under the BaCod program, five to six barangays will be grouped into one cluster under the PNP Patrulya ng Bayan – Barangay Enforcement Teams (PnT-BET) which will perform specific functions such as assistance in preventing violations of minimum health standard protocols like wearing of face masks and shields and social distancing.
It will also ensure that PnT-BET officers will provide security and patrol operations; encourage backyard farming; security visibility in coordination with barangay councils; assistance in contact-tracing efforts; promote livelihood programs like urban gardening, and skills development.
“Aside from health welfare efforts in this time of pandemic, the program is also shared as a common goal for everyone – to take part in efforts on poverty alleviation and economic recovery programs,” the PNP chief said.
“Pangalawa, we will further push our fight against illegal drugs, another menace that insidiously destroys our people. We will be more aggressive in capturing high value targets.
Pangatlo, I encourage you to have a deeper appreciation of EO 70, the basis of ELCAC. The heart of EO 70 is “good governance and better government services.” Sa ating hanay, being role models as public servants is taking into heart the true spirit of the Executive Order,” he added in pushing for the government’s effort to come up with a lasting solution to end communist insurgency in the country.
