MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday reminded government officials to observe “delicadeza” (propriety) after the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reportedly failed to practice physical distancing during a birthday celebration for Metro Manila police chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas.
“Nakarating sakin yan, papaubaya ko sa Philippine National Police yung pag-conduct ng investigation na ito kung ano talaga nangyari. Kaya ang sinasabi ko sa aking mga government officials lalo na sa nasasakupan ng DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), ito yung tinatawag nating delicadeza. May pagkakataon na kailangan maging example ka,” Año said over dzMM when asked about the alleged failure of observing social distancing during Sinas’ birthday celebration.
(I have heard of that and I will let the PNP in conducting an investigation and on what really happened. That is why I keep telling government officials especially those under DILG to have delicadeza. There are times that they need to be an example.)
To recall, the NCRPO posted photos of Sinas’ mañanita or birthday serenade last Friday, May 8. Some of the photos showed blowing his cake and interacting with guests and policemen lining up at the buffet during the celebration.
In an online press briefing on Tuesday, PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said he will investigate if there are violations of health protocols during Sinas’ celebration. Gamboa, however, said so far he did not see any violation in organizing the birthday celebration.
Año, meanwhile, said the celebration should not be organized especially for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and the coronavirus disease crisis.
“Siguro yung nangyari diyan, without the knowledge of Gen. Sinas, nag-organize yung subordinates niya na bigyan natin ng surprise na ganito e that is a big no no. Habang nasa ECQ tayo meron tayong crisis, wala yung celebration na ganyan yung mga to organize dinner na ganito, delicadeza nga e. Right there and then dapat ipatigil mo kung meron mang mga ganyan,” he said.
(Maybe what happened was, Sinas’ subordinates, without his knowledge, organized the surprise celebration but that is a big no no. While we are under ECQ and crisis, there should be no celebration, organizing of dinners, because there should be delicadeza. Right then and there you should stop it if there is a celebration like this.)