Ex-PNP chief Cascolan dies at 59
RETIRED General Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan, the 24th chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), on Friday passed away after a lingering illness. He was 59.
“It is with deep sadness and heavy heart that I, on behalf of our family, announce the passing of my beloved father, Ret. Gen. Camilo Pancratius Pascua Cascolan… He peacefully left this world this afternoon, November 24, 2023 at 5:28 pm surrounded by his loving family,” Jiro Cascolan said in a Facebook post.
Prior to his death, Cascolan, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sinagtala” Class of 1986, served as an undersecretary of the Department of Health, appointed to the position by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. in February 2021.
The late official served as chief of the PNP from September 2 to November 10, 2023, and was the 4th PMA Class 1986 member to be appointed as chief PNP by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his six-year presidency.
However, his was also the shortest as he served for only two months and eight days.
Cascolan is known as the architect of the “PNP Oplan: Double Barrel” which became the PNP’s flagship program in the “war against drugs” during the Duterte presidency.
Before he became the PNP chief, Cascolan commanded a number of key PNP positions, including the PNP Directorate for Operations, National Capital Region Police Office and the PNP Civil Security Group, before becoming the PNP Chief Directorial Staff, then the PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and later, the PNP Deputy Chief for Administration.
Former President Duterte appointed him as the 24th PNP chief when Cascolan’s classmate, Gen. Archie Francisco F. Gamboa, retired from the police force.
“My dad dedicated his life to serving and protecting our country as a man of service for 42 years. We will forever remember his unwavering dedication to his duty, his selflessness, and his love for his family,” Jiro said.
The family said more details on the visitation service will follow.
The PNP extended its condolences to Cascolan’s family and lauded his contributions to the police organization.
“I understand isa siya sa may pinakamaiksing term as PNP chief pero sa very short time ay marami siyang programa na hanggang ngayon nag-leave ng legacy sa PNP,” said PNP spokesperson, Colonel Jean S. Fajardo.
“Tayo ay nagpapaabot ng pakikiaramay at may kasamang panalangin sa kanyang buong pamilya,” Fajardo added.
Cascolan was born on November 10, 1964, in Baguio City and took his primary and secondary school at the Maryknoll Convent School and later the University of the Philippines-Baguio before joining the PMA.
After graduating from the PMA in Fort del Pilar in Baguio City in 1986, he joined the now defunct Philippine Constabulary and became a bemedaled officer who helped fought insurgents and other lawless elements in Mindanao and Visayas regions.
He earned a Master of Public Administration Degree from UP-Visayas in 1995.
During his junior years, he served as chief of police in three municipalities in Iloilo and even became chief of the Taguig City Police Station in the late 2000.
He went on to become a director of the Compostela Valley Police Provincial Office, now known as Davao de Oro, in 2012; deputy regional director for operations of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Police Regional Office (PRO) in 2015; deputy regional director for administration of the PRO-6 in Western Visayas in 2016; and Metro Manila police chief in 2018.
The late national police chief received more than 180 medals for bravery, efficiency and excellency throughout his military and police career.
He is also one of the Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service chosen by the Metrobank Foundation in 2015.
In 2019, he also received the Award for Continuing Excellence and Service (ACES) from Metrobank.
He is known for his intelligence, operations and administrative savvy, having worked with units like the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Philippine Center on Transnational Crime and the PNP Aviation Security Group.
