Sinas believes changes should be done in PNP following Tarlac shooting

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas believes changes should be done in the police force following widespread public outrage over the killing of a mother and her son in Tarlac province in the hands of a policeman.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Thursday, Sinas described the deaths of Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son Frank Anthony, 25, as “very unfortunate,” but denied that the actions of Staff Sgt. Jonel Nuezca which led to their demise are part of the culture in the PNP.

“Very unfortunate po talaga ‘yung nangyari at talaga po namang hindi po iyon ang kultura ng PNP. Naniwala ako [na] may babaguhin kasi alam mo naman kami, sumusunod kami na ‘yung mga established standard operating procedures tsaka police operational procedures po sa bawat operations namin [will be observed],” he said when asked if he believes there should be a change in the culture of the police.

(What happened was very unfortunate but it is not the culture within the PNP. I believe that there should be changes, because you know we just follow established standard operating procedures and police operations procedures in our operations.)

He also lamented that there are still erring police officers like Nuezca despite the “series of reforms and programs” already being implemented in the organization and the salary increase for uniformed personnel pushed by President Rodrigo Duterte and implemented since 2018.

Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson earlier condemned the killing of Sonya and Frank Anthony, noting that “it took place in the context of an enabling environment for police violence that President Duterte himself has encouraged.”

Sinas refused to comment on this statement.

“‘Yung kay Presidente po hindi ko po macomment ‘yun kasi siya po ang commander-in-chief pero naiintindihan ko rin ‘yung outrage ni Presidente kasi nga marami din namang mga heinous at sensational cases sa iba,” he said.

(I cannot comment on that because the President is our commander in chief. But I understand the outrage of the President because there are also a lot of heinous and sensational cases committed by some.)

Sinas then went on thanking Duterte for his support to the PNP despite irregularities committed by police officers.

“Kami po nagpapasalamat talaga kami na ang suporta ni Presidente sa PNP ay hindi po nagwe-waver (We are really thankful that the support of the President to the PNP does not waver),” said Sinas.

‘Yun po ang pasalamat po namin na in spite of everything na mga kamalian ng mga kasamahan namin, ay ang tiwala ni Presidente sa PNP maski pa noong una po ay nandiyan pa rin po at hindi po natitinag. Kasi ‘yun talaga ang kailangan ng karamihan ng pulis. Kasi marami po kaming ginagawang magagandang bagay na dapat din namang pansinin,” he also said.

(That’s what we are thankful for, that in spite of all the mistakes of our colleagues, the trust of the President since the start did not waiver, because that’s what the police needs. We have done a lot of good things that also deserve recognition.)

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JE