Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya—He was known in Barangay Salvacion in his hometown Bayombong as a mere ice candy boy, selling his products for his allowance and studies during his elementary school days.
For Police Brig. Gen. Angelito Abellera Casimiro, 54, acting Philippine National Police Regional Director for Cagayan Valley, being away for more than 35 years—spending most of his career in Mindanao apart from a short stint in the Cordillera Region—finally led to a tearful but happy homecoming.
Casimiro recalled that aside from selling ice candy products during his elementary years at the Bayombong South Central School, he also worked as a part-time janitor of the Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School’s Teachers’ Cooperative to augment his financial needs as a secondary student.
He finished his college studies as a scholar of the Saint Mary’s College, now a university, with a degree in engineering.
“After praying and asking for my path before Our Lady of Piat, she gave me a sign, so it is like a homecoming for me, so I am happy to be back home after 35 years,” Casimiro said.
With the PNP’s image tarnished by controversies surrounding its anti-illegal drug operations, Casimiro said he will focus primarily on the policy guidance of acting PNP Director General Archie Gamboa to restore the image of their organization.
“I just declared all positions from the regional directorial staff down to the chief of police vacant in compliance with our guidance to revamp the PNP, and there will be a validation after one month, two and three thereon. We are given months to prove our worth,” he added.
According to Casimiro, who was Executive Officer of the Directorate for Logistics in Camp Crame before his PRO-2 assignment, all types of illegal gambling and drugs will be the major focus of the PNP. Those who will perform poor will be recommended for attrition and while those who will perform well will be rewarded.
“I came from logistics, and this [Duterte government] is the only administration which has poured in billions of pesos for our equipment and facilities. It gave us already P21 billion just for three years, far from the previous administration’s P17 billion for helicopters, assault rifles, armored personnel carriers, pistols, radios and more are coming,” he stressed.
Casimiro announced that by end of next year, 10 helicopters will be procured by the PNP, which will be deployed to the regions for medical evacuation and logistics of their men who would be wounded in action and needing medical evacuation.
“Now that I am in my home region, I will do more. I will provide our men with the necessary resources for their operations,” he said.
He was in the province last week during his first command visit at the Nueva Vizcaya Police Provincial Office in Bayombong, as he visited his surviving mother and paid his respects to his father’s remains at the town’s cemetery.