NEW Philippine National Police chief, General Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan has aired his commitment to the public to do what is ‘right, proper and just’ during his incumbency as the country’s 24th Chief,PNP.
“During my term as Chief, PNP, ‘Coram Deo – in the Name, in the Presence, under the Authority and in the Glory of the Almighty God’ – “we will do what is right, we will do what is proper and we will do what is just,” Cascolan told his men and the public after he took his oath of office as the new PNP chief vice newly-retired Gen. Archie Francisco F. Gamboa.
The 55-year- old top cop assured the Filipino people that he will see to it the police will perform ‘as servants and protector of the community’ and continue reforming its ranks, enhancing its systems and procedures and modernizing its equipment, armaments and resources.
Gen. Cascolan said he faces a new challenge as he leads the 209,000-strong police force at a most crucial time when the country is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic downturn and increasing unemployment, violent extremism, persistent problem on illegal drugs and criminality.
“To sit at the helm of the PNP is a big challenge I am both proud and humbled to take as a Police Officer and servant of our God, our Country, and People – proud of having reached this far in my career, and humbled by the anointing of God and the National Leadership’s and Community’s trust and confidence in me and our organization,” he said.
The official vowed to continue the programs launched by his predecessors and build on what they have started in order to realize their vision of becoming a highly capable, effective and credible organization.
“I do not come with a whole new leadership platform or a plan of action that bears my personal imprint. I come with God’s grace and armed with the lessons learned and the wisdom of our past Chiefs of the Philippine National Police, whose best practices we will endeavor to continue and further improve,” he stressed.
Retiring from the force on November 10, the PNP chief admitted that the challenges they are facing today are not different from those of the past primarily because of lack or “In reality, we failed to address the challenges because our initiatives are either too little and at times too late. We refuse to learn from history, we did not maximize utilization of lessons learned from previous experiences and we failed to document and replicate best practices in our police operations,” he underscored.
“Indeed, we need to meet head-on and decisively the hard and complex issues confronting us today, such as behavioral and systemic dysfunctions, decreasing morale of personnel, limited financial and logistical resources, flawed systems and processes, and environmental and health challenges,” he said.
Gen. Cascolan said the present crisis will be another chance for the PNP and the government to rise and shine and regain the trust and confidence of the people.
‘HIGH-IMPACT PROGRAMS’
The PNP chief vowed to immediately initiate “high-impact programs, projects and activities that will contribute to long-term victories.”
He said that during his term, they will put ‘our house in order’ with the implementation of a comprehensive PNP Master Development Plan for all PNP camps starting with the National Headquarters by decongesting and streamlining units and offices, relocating operational units closer to the public for faster and better delivery of their services, and Facilities Development providing more work-conducive offices and training facilities, better quartering, healthcare and wellness facilities.
Gen. Cascolan also vowed to enhance the PNP’s crime prevention efforts by enhancing their visibility down to far-flung barangays in partnership with the communities and their ‘force multipliers.’
PNP spokesman, Brigadier Gen. Bernard M. Banac said Gen. Cascolan “brings with him the occupational specialty in command and control, honed by vast experience in field operations and strategic management.”
Banac said Cascolan’s professional experience is founded on a well-rounded career in command, staff and training assignments.
Upon graduation from Fort del Pilar, Gen. Cascolan saw action in Parang, Maguindanao as a platoon leader in the Regional Special Action Force of the Central Mindanao Constabulary Command until 1988.
From Mindanao he was reassigned to Western Visayas where he was designated to various leadership positions in the 324th PC Company in Iloilo, the 1st Iloilo CAFGU Active Auxiliary Company, 1st and 3rd Provincial Mobile Groups of Iloilo, and as Chief of Police of Barotac Nuevo, Ajuy and Balasan Police Stations.
He also previously commanded the Taguig City Police Station in 2008; the Compostela Valley Police Provincial Office in 2012; the National Capital Region Police Office in 208l a the PNP Civil Security Group.
Gen. Cascolan became the PNP Chief Directorial Staff in September 2018 and went on to become the PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and Administration.
