PNP chief to look into ‘arresto aguinaldo’ prank of Cebu City police

PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief  General Debold Sinas on Thursday said he will investigate the controversial “arresto aguinaldo” prank of the Cebu City police, which allegedly caused anxiety and stressed out its “victims.”

“I have no actual knowledge po doon so maybe I will talk to the in-charge po doon at alamin how it [prank] was carried out, kung ano intention ng program. Baka kasi they want to impress people,” said Sinas in an interview on CNN Philippines, reacting to the widely-criticized prank of the Cebu police.

“I could not say… kasi wala naman iyan sa regular directive [iyong prank], baka initiative lang ng lower units natin. […] Titignan ko muna ma’am. Maybe if it’s good, then we would support but if it already caused anxiety sa mga publiko at sa kababayan natin, I will direct them to stop such practices po,” Sinas added.

(The prank a regular directive, it may just be an initiative of the lower units.  I will look into it first. If it’s good I would support it but if it’s not, I will put a stop to it.)

Elements of police officers pulled a prank by arresting two victims who were later given Christmas presents.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite on Wednesday said he did not find the prank funny because it caused unwanted stress to the victims.

gsg