Cascolan says Sinas as PNP chief still uncertain

PNP chief Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan. Photo from PNP PIO Twitter

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan said Monday he has not yet gotten any word on whether or not National Capital Region Police Office director Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas will be his successor.

“Marami pong sinasabi (There are rumors) but I still haven’t taken or gotten any note or word from our good President,” Cascolan told reporters when asked during his regular press briefing if it was true that Sinas will replace him as PNP chief.

Cascolan is set to retire on Tuesday, November 10, when he turns 56, the mandatory retirement age for uniformed personnel.

He will hang his police uniform just two months after he took over the helm of the country’s police force on September 2.

NCRPO Director Maj.  Gen. Debold Sinas (INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso)

He said he was never asked for any recommendation on who he prefers to be the next chief of the 200,000-strong national police force.

In September, Cascolan himself said Sinas is a good officer who deserves promotion despite being charged with violating quarantine rules and having some “flaws and lapses.”

“I think he needs to be up to a directorial staff or a certain position that is fit most especially for him. I believe he is an expert for training of personnel and recruitment,” Cascolan earlier said.

“Mañanita” issue

Sinas and 18 other officers were charged with violating the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and a Taguig City ordinance, which requires the wearing of face mask and physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was also slapped with administrative charges by the PNP Internal Affairs Service.

The charges were based on a “mañanita” dawn serenade on his 55th birthday at the NCRPO headquarters in Taguig City last May, when enhanced community quarantine that banned mass gathering was still imposed in Luzon.

Sinas later apologized for causing “anxiety to the public” and said he never intended to break quarantine protocols.

Shortlist

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año earlier confirmed that three senior police officials have been included in the shortlist of candidates for the PNP leadership.

He declined, however, to identify the candidates.

The PNP is an attached agency of the DILG.

Under the present rules, all police officials with the rank of brigadier general or one-star rank are qualified to be PNP chief.

Based on hierarchy, Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar is the second highest police official behind Cascolan, followed by  Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Cesar Binag and Chief of the Directorial Staff Maj. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz.

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