Sinas a ’stickler’ in observing health protocols, but still got COVID-19 — PNP spox

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas is a “stickler” when it comes to following minimum health protocols, the PNP said Saturday as the police force defended him after the local government of Oriental Mindoro said that he did not go through the province’s usual screening being done by its health office.

In a text message sent to reporters, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen Ildebrandi Usana said that despite Sinas being a constant follower of such protocols, the PNP chief still got infected with  COVID-19 as the “virus is everywhere.”

“Our chief has been a constant follower of minimum health and safety protocols. Officials in the PNP know him so well as a stickler to this policy,” Usana said.

“But the virus is everywhere. Even royal family members get infected. We just have to pray he would recover quite soon so that he could go back to his indefatigable work again,” he added.

It was on Thursday when the PNP announced that Sinas was positive for COVID-19, and was asymptomatic.

Sinas was informed that he was positive for the disease while in Oriental Mindoro.

After the PNP went public about Sinas’ infection, the Oriental Mindoro local government called out the PNP chief, saying that he did not pass through the pier of the province in Calapan City, where health clearances are being made. Instead, he arrived by helicopter before proceeding to the PNP Regional Headquarters.

“I guess our people in Mindoro will understand our chief in that regard who wanted to simply optimize the use of his time to talk with the men in (Police Regional Office 4B) PRO4B about their accomplishments for communities in the island province,” Usana said as to why Sinas did not pass through the province’s screening.

“Until the notice of his being positive (asymptomatic) of (the) virus came out, his command visit in Mindoro via choppers was supposed to bring him straight to Palawan until the weekend to ensure that our troops are well prepared for the plebiscite,” the PNP spokesman added, referring to the Palawan plebiscite.

/MUF