MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Camilo Cascolan died due to “lingering illness,” according to spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo.
Fajardo made the clarification following reports that the former top cop’s siblings said they saw “extraordinary circumstances” behind his ailments and death, as revealed by their legal counsel, Attorney Stephen Cascolan.
“Lingering illness was the cause of the former PNP chief’s death,” Fajardo said in mixed Filipino and English during a press briefing on Tuesday.
General Cascolan died last November 25, but his family did not disclose the cause of his death; the legal counsel of his siblings, however, disclosed that he had been in a coma since March after a stroke.
Prior to his death, Cascolan also served as health undersecretary.
Attorney Cascolan likewise revealed in an interview with radio station DWPM that the National Bureau of Investigation is probing the circumstances of his death.
In response, Fajardo said Cascolan’s immediate family requested a medico-legal officer from the police force to issue his death certificate so they could retrieve the top cop’s remains and cremate them. This was due to Cascolan’s attending physician being out of town when he died, she added.
“I was made to understand, based sa pakikipag-usap natin sa medico legal officer na pumunta doon, ay yung mismong attending physician po knows the background at yung estado ng ating dating chief PNP. At naglabas na po ng death certificate, nandun yung cause of death,” the PNP spokesperson explained.
(I was made to understand that based on our discussion with the medico-legal officer, his attending physician knows about the background and state of the deceased PNP chief. They released the death certificate, which indicates the reason for his death.)
“Yung attending physician she agreed doon sa naging finding sa naging cause of death na nilagay ng medico legal officer based po doon sa mga testimony at kwento ng asawa at pati po medical records,” she added.
(The attending physician agreed on the findings and cause of death that the medico-legal officer placed on the death certificate, based on the testimonies and stories of Cascolan’s wife and medical records.)
With respect to Cascolan’s death, the PNP official said they would give the family time to grieve first before discussing whether or not an investigation is needed.
She added that the PNP arranged a necrological service for Cascolan at the Multipurpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
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