Sinas ready to be relieved over ‘anti-media policies’

Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, acting Regional Director of the National Capital Region Police Office. (Photo from NCRPO)

MANILA, Philippines — National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) acting chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas stood his ground amid criticisms over his alleged “anti-media policies,” noting that he is ready to step down if Philippine National Police (PNP) Officer-in-Charge Lt. General Archie Gamboa asks him to do so.

“Pagsinabi ng OIC na because of that tanggalin ako, sabihin ko sa inyo isang oras turnover na kaagad. Wala akong problema doon,” Sinas told reporters Monday in a press briefing in Quezon City.

(If the Officer-in-Charge asked me to be relieved, I am telling you, I will vacate my post within an hour. I have no problem with that.)

Gamboa, in a press briefing at Camp Crame, said he will talk to Sinas about his controversial policies.

Sinas reportedly told the members of the NCRPO press corps that he needed to use the office space so the media group had to pack up and vacate what had been their press office for decades.

He also came out with a “media protocol,” announcing that he would not entertain one-on-one and ambush interviews by the press, and all queries will be answered by the designated spokesperson only.

But the newly-appointed NCRPO chief remains defiant and said that he’s only taking what NCRPO owns.

“Hindi ko sila pinaalis. Kinuha ko lang ‘yung para sa amin,” he said.

(I did not ask them to leave. I just took what’s for us.)

“Tinanong ko sila, matino ‘yung usapan namin na kung wala kayong papel na sa inyo ‘to, gagamitin talaga namin… Wala akong pakialam diyan kung magalit sila sa akin. I talked to them properly,”

(I asked them, we had a sensible discussion that if they can’t provide a paper showing they own this office, then we will really use it. I don’t care if they get mad at me. I talked to them properly.)

Sinas added that he will even give the press corps a space at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City as replacement.

Sinas’ directives did not sit well with Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Ronnie Ong, who earlier said that his appointment as Metro Manila’s top cop  was “obviously a big mistake.”

READ: NCRPO chief’s ‘antifree press’ policy hit

/kga