Don’t highlight Sinas’ mañanita — Galvez

MANILA, Philippines — Saying that the “mañanita” mess that hounded Metro Manila Police chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas is already an “old” issue, the head of the National Task Force against COVID-19 on Thursday asked the public not to highlight the incident and be more understanding of the shortcomings of the law enforcers.

NTF chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. said the mañanita incident is an “unfortunate incident” that has already been resolved, taking off from the remarks of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Gen. Archie Gamboa, who said that the mañanita incident is already a “closed issue.”

“I believe it is already an old issue. Naresolve na ‘yun ng DILG… Sa pagkakaalam ko po nagkaroon na po ng resolution doon,” Galvez said in a televised press briefing.

“Huwag po nating masyadong i-highlight ‘yung isang tinatawag nating maybe unfortunate incident,” he added.

Sinas, along with 18 other police officers, were criminally charged before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office for violating coronavirus quarantine protocols during his birthday celebration at the Camp Bagong Diwa last May 8.

The police officers were rebuked by the public in social media after pictures of the event showed them holding a mass gathering, without face masks and standing closely together.

But Galvez, a former chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, appealed for understanding for the cops, explaining that the PNP has been working hard to enforce coronavirus lockdown nationwide, and its efforts should not be overshadowed by its shortcomings.

“Kasi ang PNP po, ‘yun naman po ay buong Pilipinas iniimplement nila ‘yung strict enforcement ng lockdown. Kung titignan natin sa Cebu na talagang napakahirap pong iimplement ang lockdown, they were able to implement it,” he said.

“So nakikiusap po kami na ‘yung ganitong mga klaseng issue, siyempre meron din tayong mga shortcomings dapat ang ano po natin maintindihan natin kasi yung circumstances na po na ‘yun, na nakuhanan ng picture ay hindi natin alam.”

EDV