Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Camilo Cascolan was appointed by President Bongbong Marcos as the new Undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH). His appointment to the DOH post draws mixed reactions on social media but got the support of well-known medical practitioner, Dr. Ethel Pineda.
Anti-Marcos forces in social media from various sites such as Facebook and Twitter raised their eyebrows on the decision of Pres. Bongbong Marcos to appoint Gen. Cascolan as PNP Chief as they cited the lack of medical backgrounds of the PNP chief which he should have been presented to deserve the job as DOH undersecretary.
Both the Pro and Anti-Marcos supporters were engaged in a heated social media debate, a well-known doctor and medical practitioner for more than a decade came to the rescue as she defended the appointment of General Cascolan as DOH’s Undersecretary.
According to Dr. Ethel Pineda “Not all appointed undersecretaries in the DOH are doctors. There are jobs in the department that do not require a medical degree.” Pineda stated.
The statement of Dr. Pineda was questioned by a netizen who claimed that “but I still believe the better person for the job is the one with health-related education, experience and trainings.”
Dr. Pineda responded by saying “Some jobs do not require education. Cascolan as chief of PNP has organizational skills and experience that are useful.
Here’s Some of the Comments on Facebook:
Maria Alba: As residents rotating at the ER, we used to run to the booth to answer EMT calls asking for approval of nebulized treatments for patients in transit for instance or other medical management. Might be different now but frankly, many of the EMT’s were well trained and our ok was just a formality.
Rhea Carampatana: There are many nurses and doctors in the DOH… but in the health facility enhancement program, planning and budgeting unit. Still nothing. Not everyone in the DOH should be health care professionals.
Elinor Manuel: Many doctors do not have management in their skill set. Why do you think all these big hospitals are now managed by non doctors, when at first they started out established by doctors. Case in point…Makati Medical
RIchard Jacoba: If you want to root out the syndicate and bad apples in the department…better get someone who has the know-how.
Wilfred delos Reyes: Just like the distribution of COVID 19 vaccines. Soldier The one used to be sure to get to the destination.
Edgardo Tirona: For as long as the skills or expertise respond to a felt need. There’s an URGENT felt need for internal police work.
Isay Chua: Exactly Doc! Usec will offer management and leadership skills. And I hope there will be an oplan tokhang for corrupt DOH Officials.
Yeng Polon: doc, it’s ok with us,,,we just don’t know if the cartel or the mafia in the area don’t want to line up with sniffing dogs or search and recover,,the line is rescue,,,we heard they are pushing the dengvaxia queen for sec
Eduardo Mercado: In the Department of Agriculture, the UnderSecs are not Agriculturists. In the Bank you will search for Nurse Grads, My niece is a Nurse Grads but a Teacher in Grade Three.
Meanwhile, he retired police general is the DOH’s newest undersecretary as confirmed by the agency on October 23. He was dubbed as the numbers guy during the Duterte administration. Before being appointed as PNP Chief, Gen. Cascolan served as chief of the directorate for operations of the PNP.
Gen. Cascolan then dealt with bigger numbers and complicated data sets as a short-lived Metro Manila police chief, a member of the PNP command group and PNP Chief for six months.
According to reports, General Cascolan is the closest ally and closest friend of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. It was Dela Rosa and Cascolan-both members of the PMA Class of 1986-who created Oplan Double Barrel, the supposed manual of former President Rody Duterte’s campaign against illegal d****.
Source: Dr. Ethel Pineda FB Page