Cascolan to public: Report abuses of cops assigned in hometowns

PNP chief Police General Camilo Cascolan delivers a speech in Camp Crame, Quezon City during the send-off ceremony of 2,000 police officers for the PNP’s localized deployment program. /PNP Facebook live Screenshot

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Camilo Cascolan on Wednesday urged the public to inform the PNP of possible abuses or criminal acts committed by police officers who were deployed in their hometowns.

“It [localization program] is an advantage. Siguro iyong mga nang-aabuso lang diyan yung mga malalakas ang loob. Alam niyo na iyon. Anyway, have you ever, lalo na dito sa probinsya, nakakabalita ba kayo ng maraming pulis na nakakaabuso ng kanilang lugar? Tell me. Tell me,” Cascolan said told reporters in an ambush interview at Camp Crame when asked if the police localization program is an advantage.

(Maybe those who are abusive are those who are stubborn. You know these people. Anyway, have you ever received news about abusive cops? Especially in the province? Tell me.)

“Now, if you have those samples, give it to me, we will assign them to other areas. Because if you assign yourself to other areas, other than your areas of residence, there is a tendency for abuse because wala akong kilala dito, mangongotong ako dito. Dito ako yayaman. Wala akong kilala dito. (Nobody knows me here, I can extort here. I will be rich),” he added.

Policemen can also spend their time with their families if they are assigned in their hometowns, Cascolan added.

“Mas gusto nila sa lugar nila, sa lugar ng misis nila,  because they will take care of their families, do their jobs better. Wala silang isiipin. ‘Okay pamilya ko, nandito ako,’” Cascolan said.

(They want to be in their areas, be with their wives, because they will take care of their families, do their jobs better. They will not think of doubts. My family is okay, I am here.)

The PNP earlier held a send-off ceremony for 2,222 police officers who will be deployed in regional assignments, specifically, in their hometowns and places of permanent residence.

Cascolan had pushed for the PNP localized deployment program to allow law enforcers to have a strong sense of ownership of their own localities, and perform better.

Under the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, police personnel with the rank of patrolwoman or patrolman up to police executive master sergeant will be deployed to the city and municipality of their recruitment and/or place of residence, or if not possible, to the municipality, province or regions closest to his residence.

/MUF