Duterte’s remarks won’t affect criminal, admin raps vs Sinas — PNP spox

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) assured the public that the criminal and administrative complaints filed against Metro Manila police chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas will not be affected even after President Rodrigo Duterte defended the police officer despite the controversial birthday mañanita.

“We bow to the better judgment of the Chief Executive on matters of relief and designation of police commanders to key posts,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement.

“Nonetheless, we agree with the opinion of the IAS (Internal Affairs Service) Inspector General (Alfegar Triambulo) that this development will have no effect on the criminal and administrative cases that PMGEN Sinas is facing,” he added.

In a taped public address on Tuesday, Duterte said he will not order the relief of Sinas, saying the police official is an “honest and a “good officer.”

“I don’t want him to be transferred. He is a good officer. He is an honest one. It was not his fault that there were people who serenaded him,” Duterte said.

Banac also said they will leave it up to the prosecutors to decide the fate of criminal and administrative cases against the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief.

It can be recalled that the PNP-IAS  filed criminal charges against Sinas and other 18 other Metro Manila police officials for violating quarantine protocols during a birth anniversary event for Sinas last May 8.

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