Criminal, admin cases filed vs Sinas, 18 others

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila’s top policeman, five other police generals and at least a dozen others have been slapped with criminal and administrative charges over a birthday fete for him amid a ban on mass gatherings as a precaution against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contagion.

The Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) filed the charges against Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), and several others, citing their violation of protocols under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), specifically when they gathered last May 8 for a birthday “serenade” for Sinas.

Photos of the event posted on the website of the Public Information Office of the PNP showed Sinas and several guests sharing a buffet meal and sitting next to one another, with some not wearing face masks.

Despite the charges, Sinas will stay on as head of the NCRPO as the PNP belied reports that he would be replaced.

As for criminal charges, the PNP-IAS said it found that the police personnel may be held liable for violation of Republic Act 111332, or the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act,” as well as Taguig City Ordinance No. 12-2020 mandating the wearing of face masks and the observance of physical distancing.

For administrative charges, Sinas and the other officials are facing offenses of less grave neglect of duty as well as less grave misconduct over the birthday gathering.

The other respondents are Brig. Gens. Nicholas Bathan, Florendo Quibuyen, Florencio Ortilla, Gerry Galvan and Idelrandi Usana. Also named respondents were eight police colonels, a lieutenant colonel, two police majors and two corporals.

Curiously, there were no charges filed against the police personnel for the violation of RA 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.

PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa earlier said that all violators of quarantine protocols would be charged with violation of the Bayanihan Act.

Prior to being ordered by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to investigate the gathering, Gamboa had defended Sinas, saying that he saw no violation in the holding of the birthday party for the NCRPO chief.

Still, the PNP assured the public, especially critics, that the IAS, an independent investigating body of the police force, has properly vetted and investigated the matter.

“The PNP assures the public that the complaint filed by IAS before the Prosecutor’s Office was in order and properly vetted based on evidence gathered during the investigation,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a text message.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said any decision on the fate of Sinas would be based on the administrative case filed against him.

“The decision to relieve him, to suspend him or to dismiss him is part of the administrative case,” Roque said.

“We have also initiated and Executive Secretary has actually asked the IAS, the Internal Affairs (Service) of the PNP to forward to his office the results of this investigation,” he said.

“And the reason is as a presidential appointee, there would have to be prior Malacañang clearance before administrative cases are filed against Gen. Sinas. And I think the issue of whether or not he will be relieved will be decided in the separate administrative case,” Roque said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, said Sinas “set a bad example in committing what he did during his birthday ‘mañanita’ or whatever he wants to call it.”

“Certainly, he should get the punishment he deserves even as the appropriate authorities are already investigating him,” Lacson said.

He, however, said the authorities may also want to take into consideration Sinas’ long law-enforcement service to the country and his present efforts in supervising the checkpoints all over Metro Manila “to make us safe from the coronavirus threat.”

“Make no mistake: this is not to suggest forgiveness or absolution for P/Maj. Gen. Sinas. Rather, it is an appeal to concerned netizens not to rub salt to injury by going to the extent of posting out-of-date photos to sow more hatred towards Sinas by exploiting the naïveté of certain individuals to join the bandwagon of hate towards the police officer,” Lacson said. Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero