Ex-PNP chief Cascolan appointed OP undersecretary

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has given retired Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan a post in his office, Malacañang said Wednesday.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte signed Cascolan’s appointment letter as Undersecretary of the Office of the President last Monday.

“Kinukumpirma po natin na napirmahan na noong Lunes, Feb. 22, ang appointment paper ni dating PNP Chief Camilo Cascolan bilang Undersecretary sa Office of the President (We confirm that the appointment paper of former PNP Chief Camilo Cascolan as Undersecretary of the President was signed last Monday). Welcome aboard, Usec. Cascolan,” he said.

Cascolan stepped down as PNP chief when he reached the mandatory age of retirement of 56 last November.

He was succeeded by current PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas.

Cascolan is the author of the Oplan Double Barrel, the police force’s flagship campaign against illegal drugs.

Oplan Double Barrel involves the Oplan Tokhang aimed at encouraging the surrender of small-time drug pushers and the Oplan High-Value Target which goes after big-time drug peddlers.

Under his two-month stint, he pushed for the relentless internal cleansing among police ranks.

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 starting in April 2018.

Cascolan is also a member of the Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala class of 1986 along with Gamboa and former PNP chiefs Ronald dela Rosa, who is now senator, and Oscar Albayalde.

In a separate statement, Cascolan thanked the President for his appointment.

“Of course, it’s an honor for me to serve the President. I just hope I could keep step with his standards and I will do my best,” he said.

He said he has yet to report at the OP since he received his appointment on Tuesday but “accordingly, I will be with the office of special concerns.”

“With my current position, whatever the President tells me, I will do my best of course,” he added.