National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief PMGen. Debold Sinas will remain in his post, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said Tuesday, stressing he trusts the official for his competence and honesty.
Sinas became embroiled in a controversy for allegedly violating quarantine protocols after NCRPO police officers surprised him with a “mañanita”, a traditional birthday welcome, on May 8.
“He is a good officer, he’s an honest one, and hindi niya kasalanan kung may — may magharana sa kanya sa birthday niya,” President Duterte said during a televised address to the nation.
“Marami ‘yan silang… They are all competent. But you know seniority. It is his time to be there and I do not believe in just firing him because kinantahan siya ng ‘Happy Birthday,’” he added.
The President said he doesn’t want Sinas to be displaced adding he needed him as NCRPO head.
“Pinag-aralan ko ‘yung merits at saka demerits, eh kailangan ko ‘yung tao. Mas kailangan ko iyong tao dito sa trabaho niya,” the President said.
Regarding accusations that some guests did not wear masks during the celebration, the President said it is normal for people to remove their masks when eating.
Despite the controversy, the President said he takes responsibility. “But I will not order his transfer. He stays there until further orders.”
Aside from Sinas, the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) filed criminal complaints against several police officials.
The officials allegedly violated 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. (Press Release – PCOO Presidential News Desk)
