New PNP chief vows to follow, enforce health protocols to all cops 

Incoming PNP chief Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan. FILE PHOTO from NCRPO website

MANILA, Philippines — Incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan on Wednesday said he will make sure that all police officers will follow lockdown protocols amid the controversial mañanita hounding National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas.

“I will see to it that everybody who imposes or implements the law shall be disciplined or should follow the law that they are implementing,” Cascolan said over ABS-CBN Teleradyo, reacting to a query about police difficulty when enforcing lockdown protocols. This came after Sinas’ mañanita incident, which was considered a “closed case” by outgoing PNP Gen. Archie Gamboa.

Sinas and some members of the Metro Manila police came under fire for supposedly violating health rules after they celebrated the NCRPO chief’s birthday serenade at Camp Bagong Diwa on May 8 as seen from photos that were published online, which were eventually deleted.

Sinas and 18 other police officers are now facing criminal complaints before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office for violating the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and Taguig City ordinance, which mandates wearing of face masks and promoting physical distancing when outside of the house.

Gamboa, in a previous televised interview, said the birthday serenade is already a “closed issue” without any elaboration to this statement.

The PNP will lead an online retirement honor for Gamboa as well as a change of command for the incoming PNP chief on Wednesday afternoon.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Cascolan, who is also scheduled to retire in two months’ time, as the new PNP chief on Tuesday evening.

Cascolan was Gamboa’s mistah in the Philippine Military Academy’s Sinagtala class of 1986. Cascolan was former PNP deputy chief for administration and previously served as Director for Operations and Regional Director of the NCRPO.

JPV