MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte said Police Major General Debold Sinas will stay in his position amid growing calls for his ouster due to community quarantine violation.
In an address to the public aired on early Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he does not intend to transfer the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, who came under fire for his controversial birthday bash earlier this month.
“Itong kaso ni Sinas, ako yung ayaw na malipat siya. He is a good officer, he is an honest one. Hindi niya kasalanan na may mangharana sa kanya sa birthday niya,” President Duterte said.
“Kailangan ko ‘yung tao [Sinas]. Mas kailangan ko ‘yung tao dito sa trabaho niya,” the Chief Executive added. “I don’t believe in just firing him because kinantahan siya ng happy birthday.”
Meanwhile, the criminal complaint against Sinas will still push through amid President Duterte defending him, Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service Inspector General Attorney Alfegar Triambulo said.
Triambulo said in an interview with GMA News that President Duterte’s statement on Sinas’ case has no implication with the criminal and administrative complaints filed against the cop.
“‘Yung sa criminal [case], tutuloy naman ‘yun eh, ewan ko sa piskal kung ano ang nangyari, malaman din natin sa piskal… Kasi sabi niya, kung the law is the law eh di tuloy ‘yung mga kaso pero siguro for the meantime… puwede ka namang manatili diyan hanggang walang conviction,” Triambulo said.
Triambulo also said that President Duterte could have not seen yet the investigation report which IAS sent to the office of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last Monday.
Sinas received criticisms after photos of his birthday celebration on May 8 at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City— which he had labeled as a simple “mañanita” or early morning serenade—went viral online last week.
The pictures were initially uploaded on the Facebook page of NCRPO’s public information office where police officers were seen giving Sinas roses and cakes while other photos were seen Sinas mingling with guests seated at various tables.
Sinas has apologized for the incident, but claimed he found “nothing wrong” with the gathering, saying proper social distancing and health measures were followed by the guests./PN
