Sinas denies downplaying cops’ smuggling of contraband at NBP

MANILA, Philippines — National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) acting chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas denied Monday that he downplayed the smuggling of contraband into the New Bilibid Prisons by 16 policemen under his command.

Sinas stressed that he is only asking the public not to judge the embattled cops without investigation.

“Ang akin lang imbestigahan, iba po ‘yung imbestigahan sa downplay. We’re open to investigation; ang akin lang sana huwag muna nating husgahan,” Sinas said in a press briefing.

(Calling for an investigation is different from downplaying. We’re open to investigation; as for me, in the meantime, I just hope people would not judge.)

At a press briefing on Thursday, Sinas said he believes the 16 cops did not commit a serious offense and clarified that they were outside the NCR Quad Intel Force in the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) when the cellphones, cigarettes, and an alcoholic drink were confiscated from them.

Sinas said the confiscated mobile phones are already being subjected to forensic examination while 14 of the 16 cops denied they were inside the NBP building when the supposed contraband items were confiscated.

“They were already disarmed for investigation. Fourteen of them already gave an affidavit denying they were inside the NBP when the contraband was confiscated,” Sinas said partly in Filipino.

The incident has prompted Sinas to replace NCRPO policemen deployed at the national penitentiary every month to avoid corruption and possible bribery from inmates.

READ: NCRPO probes 16 cops nabbed for smuggling contraband inside NBP

/kga