Duterte picks Cascolan as PNP chief: Ano

September 1, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Lt. Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan as the next chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano said Tuesday evening.

Ano said Duterte chose Cascolan as he is the most senior among the contenders. He will replace PNP chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa, who is retiring on Wednesday.

The other candidates were deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar and chief of the directorial staff Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawthorne Binag.

Cascolan will assume leadership of the 209,000-strong PNP during the change of command ceremony at Camp Crame Wednesday.

Cascolan will only serve as PNP chief for two months as he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Nov. 10.

Cascolan is the fourth member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986 to become the country's next top cop after Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, Oscar Albayalde and Gamboa. DMS