Cascolan is PNP officer-in-charge: Palace

Cascolan’s assumption as OIC was based on the rule of succession as the most senior official of the PNP. (File Photo: Camilo Pancratius ‘Pikoy’ P Cascolan/Facebook)

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday announced that Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for administration, Lt. Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, will serve as the office-in-charge (OIC) of the police force.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said although President Rodrigo Duterte has already selected a PNP chief, he was asked to defer making the announcement.

Outgoing PNP chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa, will bow out of the service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Wednesday.

“Well kagabi po sinabi sakin na dapat i-announce ko na pero binawi. So hindi ko pa po ma-a-announce ngayon (Last night, I was told that I was supposed to announce it but it was taken back. So I can’t announce it yet),” he said in a virtual Palace briefing.

Roque said he was provided with the name of the new PNP chief but could not yet announce it.

“Meron na pong pangalan na initially binigay pero (I was initially given a name but) I was given instruction i-hold muna po ang pag-announce (hold making the announcement),” he added.

Roque, however, said the President allowed him to reveal that Cascolan will be the PNP’s OIC.

“What we can announce is pag compulsory retirement po ni General Gamboa, ang sure na magiging OIC pa lang po ay si General Cascolan (What we can announce is when Gen. Gamboa goes on compulsory retirement, what is sure is that Gen. Cascolan will be OIC),” he said.

Cascolan’s assumption as OIC was based on the rule of succession as the most senior official of the PNP.

He was Gamboa’s batchmate in the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986 and will mandatorily retire upon turning 56 in November.

Before being named as the PNP’s second highest official, Cascolan was also named Director for Operations and later held the position as Regional Director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) starting in April 2018.

Aside from Cascolan, other contenders for PNP chief are Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, deputy chief for operations and commander of the Joint Task Force Covid Shield; and Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawthorne Binag, chief of the PNP directorial staff.

No fancy parties

While the PNP is set to hold a retirement ceremony for him, Gamboa ordered his staff not to hold any celebration.

“Walang (no) celebration, walang (no) mañanita. I issued a directive to everyone not even to attempt doing a mañanita. My wish as I have always campaigned for a better PNP and for a better and much needed support from the community, I hope it happens,” Gamboa told reporters on the sidelines of the blessing and turnover ceremony of 50 new light transport vehicles in Camp Crame.

Gamboa’s admitted that his leadership has been challenged by several issues, particularly the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Yes, actually I think all PNP chiefs I think they had their own challenges but of course this is unique not only for the PNP but for the entire government and even our entire people. So really I would thank God I was able to pull through with these all kinds of challenges that I have encountered during my incumbency and thank God for that,” he said.

He, meanwhile, said he has no idea who the next PNP chief may be.

“I don’t have any idea, let’s just wait for the President I think when I texted SILG (DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año) last night they will talk it out with the President today… on who will be the next chief PNP…I already texted my recommendation to SILG but and I think because of quarantine protocols, it is better that he is the one who relays it (to the President),” he said.

Asked regarding a possible extension of his term, Gamboa said “No comment. I’m packed and I’m ready to go.”

He also thanked Duterte for the opportunity to serve the Filipino as PNP chief.

Gamboa served as PNP OIC in October 2019, replacing Gen. Oscar Albayalde. He was later appointed by the President as PNP chief in January this year.

Limited powers

In a phone interview, Cascolan said he will just serve as a caretaker of the police force until the President names a new PNP chief.

“I will continue as Deputy Chief for Administration (DCA) and of course as OIC, and it is up for the National Police Commission on what power they will give. So we will just wait whoever will be the next Chief PNP and I’m also preparing for my retirement in November,” he added.

Asked on the possibility of being named PNP chief and a term extension, Cascolan, however, said the matter is entirely the prerogative of the President.

“That would depend on the President’s discretion. As for me, my job as OIC and as DCA is what I will focus on. But while there is no Chief PNP, the powers of an OIC is very limited,” he added. (with reports from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)