NEW PNP chief Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan yesterday vowed a more aggressive campaign against illegal drugs and better efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic during his two-month tenure.
Cascolan, one of the authors of the PNP’s campaign against illegal drugs called “Oplan Double Barrel,” said he is seeing the arrest of more high-value targets.
“We are going to intensify our anti-drug campaign. We will see to it that high-value targets are arrested),” he said in mixed Filipino and English.
In his inaugural speech, Cascolan said he will raise the PNP’s “level of service quality and delivery and command efficiency.”
“And on top of all these, I will endeavor to lead our Team PNP that promotes the aspirations of every Filipino for a nation that is peaceful, secure, free of illegal-drugs and corruption and progressive because it has a police service that is highly capable, effective and credible,” he said.
“During my term as the Chief PNP, we will seize every single opportunity to deliver better if not the best police services,” he also said.
President Duterte on Tuesday named Cascolan as PNP chief, replacing Gen. Archie Gamboa who reached the retirement age of 56 yesterday. Cascolan is due for retirement on November 10 this year.
Cascolan said the PNP cannot deny that some policemen have been detained and charged for abuses in the efforts to rid the country of illegal drugs. He vowed erring policemen would continue to be punished during his term.
On the fight against COVID-19, Cascolan said the implementation of quarantine protocols will be enhanced to ensure these are followed by the public. He said policemen should be seen patrolling the barangays.
Cascolan thanked President Duterte for giving him the trust and confidence to head the 209,000-strong police force even for only two months.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Cascolan’s two-month tenure will be a “challenge” for him “to make a difference.”
“We are confident that Lt. Gen. Cascolan will lead the national police organization with integrity, professionalism, and dedication to duty,” said Año.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said among Cascolan’s marching orders from the President are to sustain the success of the campaign against illegal drugs and maintain efforts to rid the police force of corruption.
Roque said the President also directed Cascolan to continue professionalizing the PNP. — With Jocelyn Montemayor