New PNP chief has strong ties to Iloilo

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

The new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, hails from Baguio City.

But Ilonggos have every reason to share his triumph as he leads the country’s police force. After all, Cascolan is an “Ilonggated” officer, a colloquial term for men, especially those in the uniformed service, who married a native of Iloilo.

In Cascolan’s case, his wife Amelia Tanalgo is a native of Sta. Barbara town.

But even if there was no affinity between the people of Western Visayas and Cascolan, the leadership of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) is elated with his appointment as the 22nd PNP chief.

“PRO-6 is more than proud and happy that General Cascolan is the new chief,” the PRO-6 said in an official statement.

“We assure him of our support and commitment on his journey as the chief PNP,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, added.

Throwing support to Cascolan is not a hard task to do, “as he represents the brand of officers that we have here in PRO-6,” Malong added.

Sir Pikoy, as the PNP personnel and friends fondly call Cascolan, has a big heart for his personnel, Malong said.

“We appreciate the kind of leadership he showed – very simple, very practical and yet effective,” she said.

Cascolan had been assigned in the region in his junior years as a police officer.

He was assigned to Iloilo in 1988 when he was with the now defunct Philippine Constabulary.

He became chief of police of several towns in the province between 1992 and 1998.

His latest assignment in the region was as PRO-6 deputy regional director for administration in 2014, where he earned his first star rank.

Given the kind of leadership he has shown, “we expect so much from Sir Cascolan. Knowing him, he has a good vision for the PNP organization. Whatever he plans to achieve as the 22nd CPNP, we will be standing behind him,” Malong said.

Cascolan, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1986, was appointed to lead the 109,000-strong police force on Sept 1, 2020.

He succeeded General Archie Francisco Gamboa, who relinquished the post on September 2.

Other officers being considered for the post were Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawthorne Binag, Brigadier Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., and Pol. Major Gen. Debold Sinas.

Cascolan is said to be one of the officers who crafted the controversial Oplan Double Barrel, or more commonly known as Oplan Tokhang.

But unlike his predecessors, Cascolan is considered a low-key officer and rarely takes credit for his work.

As other contenders had the backing of those close to President Rodrigo Duterte, Daily Guardian learned from sources that former PNP chief now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa pushed for Cascolan as the next PNP chief.

Cascolan’s term, however, is one of the shortest as he will only serve until November when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 65. But Pres. Duterte can extend his term just like what he did with Sen. Dela Rosa.