MANILA, Philippines — Cases against Metro Manila police chief Gen. Debold Sinas will continue, Malacañang said Thursday, despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks that he will stay in his post.
“Sa tingin ko po, malinaw ang sabi ng ating Presidente, mananatili po siya sa pwesto ngayon. At dahil dati namang piskal din ang ating Presidente, alam po ng ating Presidente na kinakailangan umusad yung mga proseso ng kasong kriminal,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press briefing.
“Pagdating naman po sa mga administrative cases, uusad po yan kung ang rekomendasyon ay magtuloy ang administrative cases,” he added.
Duterte earlier said he will keep Sinas in his post despite fierce criticisms over alleged breach of quarantine protocols during his birthday mañanita.
“Kung ano man ang nasabi ng Presidente sa ngayon, dahil ang sabi po nya, wag munang tanggalin ngayon, manatili sa pwesto ngayon, that is without prejudice po kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng administrative cases kung ito nga po ay papayagang ihain ng Palasyo,” Roque said.
Sinas’ birthday celebration turned controversial after photos of the event showed a number of police officers attended the “mañanita” in violation of quarantine protocols against mass gathering and implementation of physical distancing, not to mention a violation of the liquor ban.
Sinas has apologized over the incident saying he did not intend to cause “anxiety,” but claimed that some of the photos were “edited” and were “old photos.”
The Metro Manila top cop and 18 other police officers were already criminally charged by the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) for their supposed failure to follow quarantine protocols.
However, PNP Chief General Archie Gamboa said Sinas will stay in his post since he is “hard to replace” due to his ongoing programs amid the COVID-19 crisis.