"The President has vouched for General Sinas’ character."
"The President has vouched for General Sinas’ character."
Looks like there’s no use harping on President Duterte’s designation of controversial Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas as the new Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
It is the President’s prerogative to do so, after all. So, so be it.
Apparently, Manong Digong did not find sufficient justification to sanction then P/Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas for the “mañanita” incident which most of us deem a violation of strict enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) rules back in May.
Overzealous subordinates and fellow officer friends of Sinas, then NCRPO chief, threw the traditional “maÅ„anita” on the occasion of his 55th birthday at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, and photos of the celebration posted in the social media went viral.
Manong Digong vouched for Sinas’ good character.
Just the same, the PNP Internal Affairs pressed criminal and administrative charges against Sinas and other policemen involved before the Taguig Prosecutors Office violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
Since one is deemed innocent until proven guilty, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt to prove himself worthy of to lead the 200,000-strong PNP for six months, going after illegal drugs dealers or what’s left of them.
Weeks after the “mañanita” controversy, Sinas was promoted to Police Major General, joining P/Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar as stars of Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987.
Manong Digong must have good reasons to believe Sinas is “a perfect fit” for the post of Chief PNP.
My bubwits in Camp Crame said, Sinas in fact would have been named Chief PNP with General Archie Gamboa’s retirement last September but Davao boy General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan had to have his turn at the helm.
Manong Digong’s critics scored Sinas’ “lack of moral authority” to lead owing to his maÅ„anita stigma, disregarding the very strict ECQ rules on social gathering that the rest of the Filipinos had to comply with for months of lockdown.
Human rights activists denounced Sinas as a “berdugo” or executioner of suspected drug dealers when he was Central Visayas regional police chief.
The general also had annoying spats with news reporters on several occasions.
Ironically, these perceived qualities instead may have convinced the President that Sinas possessed the toughness and brute willpower to carry out his marching order.
On his simple oath-taking as the new Chief PNP on Wednesday, Sinas vowed to give his unwavering support to the government’s war on illegal drugs, and “walk the talk.”
A big fan of the Japanese animated crime busters Voltes V, he said the campaign will be refocused on high-value targets, including ninja cops, hopefully.
He also vowed to crack down on illegal gambling, warning his men that anyone caught with ties to illegal gambling would have to answer to Voltes V.
Let’s give General Sinas six months to help improve things amid the continuing pandemic.
