PNP chief: Cascolan’s transfer from NCRPO to CSG not a demotion

Former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Dir. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan’s transfer to the Civil Security Group (CSG) is not a demotion, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde said Monday.

Albayalde mentioned this as he defended the controversial decision to move Cascolan out of the NCRPO—a much-coveted position seen as a stepping stone to becoming the PNP chief—after a brief six-week stint in office.

“What we did is a major revamp… it is not my decision, it is a collective decision, it is a command decision,” Albayalde said in a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Albayalde was apparently referring to the oversight committee, composed of the PNP command group and its most senior officials.

“And nakita naman natin it is not a demotion lalung lalo na sa NCRPO (Cascolan), nilagay natin sa CSG, that is the national support unit, national in scope. Parang CIDG yan,” he added.

(And we do not see that as a demotion, especially his transfer from the NCRPO to the CSG. That is the the national support unit, national in scope. It’s like the Crime Investigation and Detection Group.)

The CSG is one of the main operational units of the PNP that covers the organizational and business operations of all organized private security personnel, detective agencies, company guard forces, government guard units.

It also oversees the licensing and registration of firearms and explosives.
Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar replaced Cascolan as the NCRPO regional director, promoted from his position as chief of Police Regional Office 4-A in Calabarzon.

Albayalde also announced on Friday the reshuffling of at least 28 police officials, including new police spokesperson Sr. Supt. Benigno Durana Jr.

Brushing off observations that he and Cascolan had differences over the proposed eight-hour shift for police personnel, Albayalde emphasized that the PNP leadership puts the right person to the right position.

“Ang sinasabi lang natin (What we are saying is that) we are putting the right person on the right job. You heard that over and over again, you heard that from the day that I assumed office and I also said there will be deliberation of key personnel, all commanders up to the regional level,” Albayalde said.

The police chief said the recently-assigned officials were under probation for one month before making permanent to their positions.

“We have no luxury of time here. Hindi pwedeng natin hintayin sa kanila yung 100 days nila in office. So titingnan natin to after one month, they’ll be deliberated on kung talagang if they are deserving to stay in office then we will make them permanent,” he said.

(We cannot wait for their first 100 days in office. So we will see after a month, they’ll be deliberated on if they really are deserving to stay in office, we will make them permanent.)

He also said he would announce in the coming days the reshuffling of all other key police officials from the regional down to the city level. /vvp