President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the appointment of Lt. Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan as the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed this on Tuesday, hours after Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Cascolan will act as PNP officer in charge once PNP Chief Archie Gamboa retires today, Sept. 2.
“I have already the name initially given to me, but I was given instructions to hold the announcement,” Roque explained during his regular press briefing.
But Ano later told the Philippine News Agency: “Lt. Gen. Cascolan is the new Chief PNP, PRRD signed the paper of appointment. That’s the decision of the President, we have to respect the wisdom and the decision. Cascolan is senior and qualified."
As the country's 24th PNP chief, Cascolan will serve a little over two months, as he will retire on Nov. 10 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.
As PNP deputy chief for administration, the second-highest post in the national police, Cascolan replaced outgoing PNP chief Gamboa, his classmate in Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class 1986.
Under PNP rules, the law of succession should be followed if no replacement is appointed once the chief, in this case Gamboa, retires.
Cascolan was among those recommended to replace Gamboa despite having only two months left in the service. He will be the fourth member of the PMA Class of 1986 to hold the top police post, after current Senator Ronald dela Rosa, Oscar Albayalde and Gamboa.
Gamboa also acted as officer in charge for a few months due to the abrupt retirement of Albayalde.
Also recommended to replace Gamboa were Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, the No. 3 man who is PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, and Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawthorne Binag, the No. 4 man who is Chief of the Directorial Staff.
