Philippine National Police Chief Camilo Cascolan has vowed a tougher approach against the COVID-19 pandemic, illegal drugs and the insurgency.
"Think of it like we are in a basketball game. As your chief, I am holding the ball. I want three points in my leadership,” Cascolan said during his first flag-raising ceremony as PNP chief in Camp Crame on Monday.
“I want my police officers to be responsible, respected and disciplined. I expect no less. Our loved ones and the public we serve demand and deserve that.”
Under this strategy, Cascolan says, the program dubbed Barangay Anti-COVID Defense or BaCod will involve the forging of stronger ties between the police and the community in responding to the pandemic.
“We will expand our participation and cooperation with the community. We will no longer be regarded as just enforcers in the checkpoints. We will have more presence in the barangays. We will be closer to the people in this fight. We will adopt a new hashtag. Today I declare #WeFightAsOne,” Cascolan said.
He says he will also intensify the campaign against illegal drugs and high-value targets.
“We will further push our fight against illegal drugs, another menace that destroys our people. We will be more aggressive in capturing high-value targets,” he said.
He says the cooperation with various stakeholders and groups will be needed to level up the PNP’s restorative efforts against drug users who want to change their lives as responsible citizens.
The last part of the strategy is focused on internal security and anti-insurgency, “I encourage you to have a deeper appreciation of EO 70, the basis of ELCAC. The heart of EO 70 is 'good governance and better government services'. Among our ranks, being role models as public servants means taking to heart the true spirit of the Executive Order,” he said.
EO 70 was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018. It institutionalized the attainment of inclusive and sustainable peace through the creation of a national task force to end the local communist armed conflict and to adopt a national peace framework.
Cascolan says the more the PNP is able to win the hearts and sentiments of the communities, the better the fight against terrorism will be.
“Be one with me as I steer the ship with a swift maneuver that will make every personnel proud of his uniform,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cascolan has ordered a revamp of the police regional offices and units inside Camp Crame, the PNP Public Information Office said Tuesday.
After serving as PNP spokesman for about 20 months, Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac was named new director of the PNP Training Service. He will be replaced by Police Col. Ysmael Yu beginning Sept. 9.
Police Maj. Gen. Marni Marcos Jr. was designated new Director for Investigation and Detective Management effective on Sept. 10, while Police Maj. Gen. Celso Pestaño will take the helm at the Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management.
Cascolan also ordered the designation of Police Brig. Gen. Pascual Muñoz Jr. as the regional director of Police Regional Office MIMAROPA and Police Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo as chief of Police Regional Office VII.
The other senior officials moved to new posts were the following:
Police Brig. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. – Deputy Director for Intelligence
Police Brig. Gen. Edgar Monsalve – Director, Intelligence Group
Police Brig. Gen. Joseph Ulysses Gohel – Director, PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group
Police Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro – Acting Director for Integrated Police Operations, Southern Luzon
Police Brig. Gen. Danilo Macerin – Executive Officer, Directorate for Operation
Police Brig. Gen. Sterling Raymund Blanco – Deputy Director for Administration, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group
Police Brig. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento – Director, Center for Police Strategy Management
Police Brig. Gen. Alex Sintin – Acting Director, National Police Training Institute
Police Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg – Director, Logistic Support Service
Police Brig. Gen. Nicerio Obaob – OCPNP
Police Col. Roel Acidre – Acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration, Police Regional Office CARAGA
Police Col. Celso Bael – Acting Executive Officer, Directorate for Intelligence
Police Col. Franco Simborio – Acting Chief, PNP Command Center
Police Col. Leo Francisco – Acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration, Police Regional Office 3
Their new designations will be effective on Wednesday.
Cascolan had previously said he would not implement a major revamp within the police force.