NEW Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Camilo Cascolan on Thursday, September 3, 2020, reshuffled officials in key positions as he assumed the top police post.
Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar became the second highest ranking official as the deputy chief for administration while Lieutenant General Hawthorne Binag advanced to become deputy chief for operations.
Binag was replaced by Directorate for Information and Communications Technology (DICTM) head Joselito Vera Cruz as the chief Directorial Staff, the fourth member of the PNP Command Group.
Major General Gilberto Cruz, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-North Luzon (DIPO-NL), and Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) director Chiquito Malayo will switch posts.
Major General Emmanuel Licup, chief of the Directorate for Operations (DO), will be the new head of the Directorate for Comptrollership (DC), replacing Major General Marni Marcos who was transferred to the Office of Chief PNP.
Other officials who were given new assignments were Brigadier General Bartolome Bustamante who is heading the Bicol Region Police Office, Brigadier General Alfred Corpus who will be the new head of the DO, and Brigadier General Rolando Hinanay from PNP Crime Laboratory (PNP CL) who will head the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM).
Hinanay will be replaced by Brigadier General Steve Ludan from Directorate for Research and Development (DRD) while Colonel Emma Libunao will be transferred from the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) to the Directorate for Police Community Relations.
Cascolan said he will also reduce the number of policemen assigned in Camp Crame to increase police visibility on the field.
“Kung titingnan mong mabuti ‘yung mga operational support unit nandito sa loob ng Crame, hindi natin alam kung anong ginagawa nila, mas marami pa sila dito kesa sa labas. Kahit na sabihin natin na 1 is to 500 na ang kapulisan in ratio in population ay hindi mo maramdaman sa labas kasi di sila masyadong nakikita kasi nasa loob sila ng Crame,” he said.
“Ang maritime group kailangang pumunta na sa tubig, ang HPG (Highway Patrol Group) sa highways dapat, PSPG (Police Security Protection Group) ganon din sa Clark. Ang SAF (Special Action Force) ilalagay natin sa Baras, Rizal,” he added.
He said the re-evaluation of the deployment of the police on the field aims to provide maximum protection to the communities but he also assured the welfare and morale of his men.
In his speech upon his assumption as the country's 24th top cop on Wednesday, Cascolan said the PNP's comprehensive master development plan include giving equal opportunity and leveling the playing field in the placement and promotion of personnel based strictly on performance, service reputation, and merit and fitness in establishing a rationalized "succession planning’ and ‘career path”.
“We will also enhance the provision of healthcare and wellness services with the improvement of health and recreational facilities and partnership,” he said.
The PNP has executed memorandums of agreement or understanding with healthcare and wellness providers such as the Philippine Society of Gastroenterologist, Makati Medical Foundation Inc., Unilab Foundation Inc., Chinese General Hospital, and National Kidney Transplant Institute among others.
"Close mentoring and coaching will be emphasized, and we will have exact discipline in all aspects of policing. Following the principle of command responsibility, we will hold unit commanders and leaders accountable in the accomplishment of their tasks and in upholding human rights and enforce rule of law at all times," he added.
Cascolan said under his watch, the PNP will also embark on an intensive drive to promote human resource development aimed at ensuring that every police officer "will know his or her job and do them well.”
"Following the principle of ‘putting the right person on the right job’, we will establish a certification process for individuals and units. Everyone must be proficient with the basics of policing particularly on discipline, courtesy, cleanliness, integrity, transparency, accountability, command responsibility and professionalism," he said.
Cascolan is set to retire on November 10, 2020. (SunStar Philippines)