‘Just like any other birthdays,’ says Cebu-based media group head on Sinas 

CEBU CITY – There was nothing new on how National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Debold Sinas celebrated his birthday this year.

He was also given a “mañanita” or an early morning serenade by policemen at his quarters at PC Hills in Barangay Apas, Cebu City during his birthday in May last year.

Sinas was director of the Central Visayas police from July 2018 to October 2019 before he was assigned at the National Capital Region Police Office.

During his last year’s mañanita, Sinas was also given a cake while policemen sang songs to him.

The “mañanita” was followed by a breakfast buffet that was attended by police officials, his staff members, and chiefs of the different police stations, said broadcast and print journalist Arnold Bustamante, president of the Defense PNP Press Corps (DEPP), a group of police beat reporters in Cebu.

“During his stint here, there was just a mañanita and a breakfast to celebrate his birthday,” Bustamante told the INQUIRER over the phone.

Served during his birthday in 2019 were puto (steamed cake), mangoes, native sikwate (hot chocolate), and pancit, among others.

“He does not want a grand celebration to celebrate his birthday,” Bustamante said.

“The only difference between his previous birthdays and this year’s celebration was that there’s an ongoing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila,” he added.

Last May 8, NCRPO policemen held a surprise party to celebrate Sinas’ 55th birthday.

They gave a “mañanita” for Sinas, violating the government’s ban on mass gatherings and physical distancing to stop the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

Photos of the celebration were posted on the official Facebook account of the NCRPO but were deleted from the page on Wednesday, May 13.

Sinas has issued a public apology, saying it was never his intention to disobey any existing health protocols to stop the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

He, however, insisted that they “observed protocols.”

Philippine National Police chief General Archie Gamboa ordered an internal investigation on Sinas’ birthday celebration.

Cebuano policemen were tight-lipped about the recent controversy involving Sinas who once served as Central Visayas’ top policeman.

“Dili lang mi mo-comment ana. (We just won’t comment about that),” one policeman who requested anonymity said. Other police officers also declined to issue any reaction about Sinas’ alleged failure to observe the COVID-19 health protocols when policemen at the NCRPO gave him a birthday party last May 8.

Sinas served as police director of the Central Visayas police based in Cebu City from July 2018 to October 2019 before he was appointed as chief of the NCRPO.

Before he became the police regional director of Central Visayas, he was the crime laboratory director and secretary for directorial staff in Camp Crame.

Sinas, a native of Butuan City, is a batchmate at the Philippine Military Academy of former NCRPO chief and Philippine National Police deputy chief for operations Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. They both graduated from the Hinirang Class of 1987.

JPV