By Fernan Angeles
PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Camilo Cascolan is making a wish – for the President to extend his term beyond his mandatory age of retirement.
In a radio interview, Cascolan said he is amenable to the idea of extending his term so he could achieve more, as he was picked to be the country’s top cop with only two months before reaching the mandatory retirement age for policemen.
“Puwede tayo ma-extend. Of course, tuloy ang retirement pero sana pagbigyan pa rin tayo. We hope we will be extended,” Cascolan said.
Cascolan is set to retire on Nov. 10 as he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
During his short stint as the country’s top cop, he said he had established a 9-point action agenda including transferring police personnel closer to areas where their services are needed.
“Well, even though it was a short term, I think I have given more than a year of service to the people of the Philippines… It’s not how long you will serve. It’s how much you can serve or how much you can give for your organization,” he said.
Prior to his top PNP post, Cascolan, who was then the deputy chief for administration of the PNP, temporarily became caretaker of the police force after former PNP chief Archie Gamboa was injured in a helicopter crash.
He also served as the chief of the PNP directorate for operations and Metro Manila police director.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sinagtala” Class of 1986, Cascolan’s “mistahs” or classmates include his predecessors, former police chiefs Gamboa, Oscar Albayalde and Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa.
Cascolan was among those who crafted “Oplan Double Barrel,” which became the PNP’s flagship program in the war against illegal drugs.
Included in this program is the controversial “Oplan Tokhang,” which led to over 8,000 deaths, according to a report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights citing official figures.
“Ang isang mali ng nag-implement dun is umaboso po sila. Hindi nila sinunod ang rule ko. At the same time, marami silang viniolate na human rights. ‘Yung mga ‘yun ay nakasuhan naman,” he said.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who oversees the PNP, had submitted 3 names to President Rodrigo Duterte for Cascolan’s replacement.
They are Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, deputy director for administration; Police Lt. Gen. Cesar Binag, deputy director for operation; and Police Maj. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz, chief of the directorial staff.