Gamboa still backs Sinas despite controversial mañanita, Taguig eviction incident

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa on Wednesday defended anew National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Major Gen. Debold Sinas in spite of the latter’s involvement in some controversies.

For Gamboa, there is nothing wrong about Sinas’ move to personally go to the Southern Police District (SPD) compound where a confrontation with a relative of a retired policeman ensued on July 20.

“The mañanita, I think, is a closed issue,” the PNP chief said in an interview over ANC. He was asked if the PNP leadership is spoiling Sinas despite the mañanita and Taguig City eviction controversies.

“On the second, on the issue that Sinas went to the SPD compound, it is a government property. The structure is a government structure, how can we be wrong when we just want to impose our right possessing our own land, our own building?” Gamboa added.

He then asserted that it was “rightful to impose” PNP’s claim over the property in Taguig, where the family of retired policeman Arnel delos Santos currently lives.

“Ang lumabas kasi doon parang may karapatan pa ang mga tao doon. They don’t have (the right) because it is a government property, it is even a government structure,” Gamboa pointed out.

(It appears that the people living there have the right. They don’t have the right because it is a government property, it is even a government structure.)

“’Yun lang ang hindi naiintindihan ng iba kaya bina-bash nila si General Sinas. I stand by dun sa nangyaring ‘yun that it was rightful to impose what’s ours,” he added.

(That is what others cannot understand, that is why they are bashing General Sinas. I stand by what happened there and it was rightful to impose what is ours.)

To recall, Arles Delos Santos, the son of Arnel posted a video of Sinas and a group of Metro police trying to evict them from the property.

Arles said one of the policemen allegedly tried to punch him as he asked law enforcers for documents to warrant the eviction. Another policeman was seen in the video forcefully taking a cellphone from one of the residents to prevent him from taking photos of the confrontation.

Sinas stays

Department of Interior and Local Government chief Eduardo Año said Sinas must stay in his post amid the ongoing investigation on NCRPO members over the Taguig City incident.

“Yes, he must stay in his post. He is just implementing the camp regulations and policies,” Año said in a text message to INQUIRER.net when asked if Sinas should stay as NCRPO chief even after the controversial confrontation in Taguig.

Asked then if Sinas should face sanctions, Año said he would wait for the result and recommendations of the investigation.

KGA