Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque holds an online press briefing while on self-quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. Screengrab from RTVM
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Debold Sinas and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque should be sanctioned if an investigation will show they had violated health protocols, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Friday.
“After due process, yes,” Lacson said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if Sinas and Roque should be sanctioned for their supposed violation of protocols being enforced to stem the spread of COVID-19.
“An investigation is in order [to] find out if there’s really a violation in the health protocols committed by Gen. Sinas, then, by all means, he should be sanctioned as well as Sec. Roque for that matter,” he added.
Both Sinas and Roque have, on multiple occasions, been criticized for allegedly breaching COVID-19 protocols. Both public officials have also recently announced that they have contracted COVID-19.
Earlier, the mayor of Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro said Sinas did not go through screening protocols required for anyone traveling to the provinces.
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Lacson, meanwhile, underscored the importance of leading by example, saying netizens criticizing Sinas and Roque have their “reasons to gripe.”
“Leadership by example…that’s very basic in governance. ‘Pag yung matataas na opisyales nakita ng mga mga tao na nagkakaroon ng [When a high official commits a] violation and nothing is being done to sanction and discipline them, then where would that put the government in terms of setting the example?” he said.