MANILA – National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Debold Sinas is not yet off the hook even after he already got the support of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Criminal and administrative case filed against Sinas for his alleged violation of the community quarantine rules would still proceed, according to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
He clarified President Duterte’s statement during his recent address to the nation saying that Sinas will remain as Metro Manila’s top cop until after the cases against him is decided.
“Ang sinabi ni Presidente ay malinaw: Sa ngayon po ay mananatili siya. Pero hindi po natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa susunod ng mga araw dahil patuloy po ang proseso,” Roque said in a virtual press conference.
Sinas and 18 other police officers are facing a criminal complaint for alleged violation of City Ordinance 12, series of 2020, which imposes mandatory wearing of face masks and physical distancing, and Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
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
