(UPDATED) Police Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan has been appointed as the next Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

Año said President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the appointment paper of Cascolan.

“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,” Año said.

Cascolan, who is currently the PNP deputy chief for administration, is the second highest ranking police officer.

Based on the rule of succession, he would have been named as PNP officer-in-charge upon the retirement of PNP Chief Archie Gamboa.

Gamboa is set to retire Wednesday, September 2.

Cascolan’s appointment as the 24th PNP chief was announced on the eve of Gamboa’s retirement.

He is also set to retire on November 10, 2020.

He will be the fourth member of the Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class of 1986 to serve as PNP chief.

The others were Ronald dela Rosa, Oscar Albayalde and Gamboa.

The turnover of command has been set for September 2 in Camp Crame in Quezon City. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)