The Cascolan catalyst

The appointment of Ret. Gen. Camilo Cascolan as an undersecretary of the Department of Health has become a momentary center of controversy or serious conversation. A lot of energy is focused on the former PNP chief’s lack of medical background, lack of related expertise and apparent political patronage under the PBBM administration.

From what I’ve picked up so far, the bulk of opposition is based on the fact that Cascolan was the co-author, if not principal designer, of the Oplan Tokhang/Oplan Double Barrel of the PNP that led to an extreme and brutal campaign against drug pushers and drug dependent criminals. While a lot of noise is being made about the appointment being an insult to the community of health workers, the “refrain” is always about Oplan Tokhang, red-tagging and the suspicion that Cascolan is being placed in the DOH to monitor activists and radicals and their organizations.

On the other hand, little is being said about a couple of MDs or medical practitioners who’ve headed the DOH and displayed utter lack of leadership, borderline cowardice in the face of public pressure and although they knew their diseases and prescription, they were utter failures in terms of management, logistics and public administration.

While I resent political appointees pulling the rug from under career officials, fairness requires that the public also look into Cascolan’s professional history and executive character and not just police skills. I immediately appreciate how he dared to push for a standard 8-hour workday for police officers against the wishes of his superior then who insisted on 12-hour shifts for cops.

Cascolan is also credited with developing electronic data system for shared information on profiles of criminals, among many others. Yes, he is no doctor, but he did a lot of management improvement programs at the PNP and was not just playing cop. 

What nobody seems to be asking is why and how so many retired police generals find “a life after the PNP” in other government agencies and departments, while non-military or non-PNP retirees from those same agencies don’t enjoy lateral transfers as much as PNP and AFP officials do.

When the Cascolan appointment first came out on the front page of The Philippine STAR, I shook my head in disappointment because I knew that one or two deserving career officials within the DOH won’t be promoted as a result of Cascolan’s appointment. This always happens with every new and not so new administration; some losing candidate, ally or active supporter or contributor will eventually gun for or be given a post amongst available slots for director, asec. or usec. while long-term career officials in the queue get pushed back or stepped on.

So what exactly is the reason or system in play? According to the intellectual kanto boys I eavesdrop on, many if not majority of high-ranking PNP officials have the right “links” or affiliations. To begin with, being PMAers or graduates of the Philippine Military Academy is tantamount to membership in a military fraternity where they all look out for each other.

In recent times, the Philippine National Police Academy has become the police version of the fraternity. Upon joining the service, every police officer will either be recruited, invited or will drift towards membership in the Free Masons either with sincerity or motive. Good or bad, the general impression is that a third or half of the PNP are Free Masons.

During their two to three decades of service, these police officers will invariably be deployed or assigned to an AOR or Area Of Responsibility where they will spend three to six, sometimes even nine years closely working with a mayor or governor and a congressman, many of whom are also members of the fraternity, sect or denomination. During this association, the PNP officers provide security, protection for the mayor or the congressman, or firepower against lawless elements within the LGU of concern.

Aside from membership in sects, frats or organizations, there has always been strong ties among people and politicians who come from the same region or shared ethnicity. FM or Marcos Sr. was clearly partial to Ilocanos. PNoy had strong links to folks from Tarlac, so it comes as no surprise if a genuine “Baguio Boy” would be endorsed by the Ilocano President.

Contrary to our initial impression, many retired PNP and AFP generals who have an “after life in government” do so because they built up quite a network in anticipation of their relatively shorter careers. While many professionals in the private sector and government agencies get to retire as age 65, our police officials retire at the ripe young age of 56. Very few of them look forward to giving up the badge, the work and the job security once they hit 56. In fact, as taxpayers we are also not getting our money’s worth in terms of the investment made on every police officer who goes through the PNPA, several dozen training programs as well as masters or PhD degrees and numerous foreign studies.

Contrary to their “gun-toting” portrayals, many of our police officers are better educated, beginning from the “Academy” to internal programs and skills training that range from crime prevention, laboratory fundamentals, finance and executive skills training. I myself have conducted executive level media and communications training for several batches that were organized by the Directorate for Police Community Relations.

Instead of sending them all off to pasture at age 56, it is time for Congress and the Senate to extend the age of retirement either to 59 as done by the AFP or make everything uniform at 65. Next, lay down rules and qualifications and numbers for political appointees while recognizing and prioritizing career executives in line!

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