MANILA, Philippines — Some lawmakers in the House of Representatives were supportive while others lambasted the appointment of Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas as the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday.
Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s exercise of prerogative and authority to appoint the chief of the PNP “is enough to justify the appointment” of the controversial police official.
“I’ve had the chance to work with General Sinas at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Advisory Council and he showed commitment in pursuing the Performance Governance System (PGS) in the NCRPO,” Biazon said in a statement.
“He was proactive in ensuring that the NCRPO was not only compliant but proficient. He had [a] good rapport with the stakeholders as shown by the cooperation of the business community in the reform initiatives undertaken under the PGS,” he added.
Nonetheless, Biazon hopes that Sinas would show that he has learned a lesson from the previous mañanita issue that made headlines in May this year.
To recall, Sinas, when he was National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, drew flak after his birthday gathering was attended by many police officers who defied health protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Aka Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin, meanwhile, called on Sinas to restore public trust in the police, saying that the latter should disclose and update on its social media accounts the complete list and details of all pending and decided administrative and criminal cases against police officers.
“There should also be a disclosure of a complete list of all AWOL police officers. These PNP personnel who have betrayed the public trust and those dismissed from the service would likely resort to criminal activities on their own or as part of syndicates,” Garbin said.
“It is but right that the media and the general public are made continually aware of the threat these AWOL and dismissed officers pose to the safety and security,” he added.
Diwa Rep. Mike Aglipay, who himself is a son of a former PNP chief, said that Sinas should be an example in following the law.
“As the chief law enforcer in the country, We expect nothing less from him,” Aglipay said.
‘Bigger mañanita-style impunity’
But the opposition Makabayan bloc lambasted Sinas’ appointment, with one lawmaker saying that the public can expect “a bigger mañanita-style impunity” under the new leadership.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas described Sinas as the “mastermind of the illegal arrest and trumped-up charges” against human rights defenders Reina Mae Nasino and Cora Agovida after his deployment to NCRPO from Central Visayas.
“Expect a bigger mañanita-style impunity with the appointment of Major General Debold Sinas as new PNP chief,” Brosas said.
“Before wreaking havoc in the National Capital Region, Sinas had already established himself as the ‘Central Visayan butcher’ during his stint as Central Visayas Police Chief, which led to the massacre of at least 87 civilians under the bloody Oplan Sauron,” she added.
Brosas said that with the appointment, Sinas “will be more capable of not only hosting illegal mass gatherings but in orchestrating mass arrests and mass murders of ordinary citizens ala-Oplan Sauron.”
“The appointment of Sinas as head of the PNP is no surprise, as President Duterte has a knack for rewarding loyal, blood-thirsty police and military officials,” Brosas said.
“This is also part of the Duterte regime’s plan to intensify its red-tagging schemes and brutal war machinery against the Filipino people with the help of one of his most loyal lackeys,” she added.
Meanwhile, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said there is nothing to expect but more human rights violations under Sinas’ leadership, saying that the latter will only “continue serving the tyrannical rule of the Duterte administration instead of protecting the rights and safety of the Filipino people.”
“Hindi na rin nakakagulat na isang mañanita lover-quarantine violator at arkitekto ng maraming patayan noong panahon na siya ay regional director ng Central Visayas ay prinomote ni Pangulong Duterte bilang Chief PNP,” Castro said.
(It is not surprising that President Duterte promoted a mañanita lover-quarantine violator and an architect of many killings when he was still the regional director in Central Visayas as PNP chief.)
“With this new appointment of the Chief PNP, we can only expect more human rights violations against the Filipino people as the tyrannical rule of the Duterte administration persists,” she added.
Bayan Muna Reps. Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat likewise lambasted Sinas’ appointment.
Gaite said that Duterte’s appointment has nothing to do with competence and integrity, but all about notoriety and absolute loyalty.
“As things stand, young police and Army officers would cozy it up with politicians so that they can also get juicy positions after some time,” Gaite said.
“This glaring example of patronage politics imposes upon them that merit and competence have little or nothing to do with securing positions. What matters is who you know and not what you know,” he added.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced Sinas’ appointment on Monday.
Sinas, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987, succeeded General Camilo Cascolan, who is retiring on Tuesday.
Sinas was regional director of the Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas) before he was appointed Metro Manila’s top cop. [ac]
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