MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila police chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas on Thursday said he will not take leave over his controversial May 8 birthday celebration unless so ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Archie Gamboa.
“Unless otherwise instructed by chief PNP and the President, I don’t think so,” Sinas said over CNN Philippines’ The Source when asked if he will accept calls to take a leave while his mañanita or birthday serenade and celebration is being probed.
“‘Di naman kailangan dahil aantayin ko yung results ng investigation (It won’t be needed because I will wait for the results of the investigation.),” he added.
To recall, Gamboa ordered the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service to probe Sinas’ mañanita or birthday serenade to determine if social distancing was violated.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra also directed the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the alleged health violations during the birthday event.
Photos from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), which were taken down due to criticisms, showed the Sinas and some police officers attended a gathering to celebrate his birthday last Friday, May 8 at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
The photos showed a number of policemen lining up at a buffet spread and guests, who are wearing face masks. There was also a photo of Sinas receiving flowers from his guests and blowing out candles from his birthday cake.