Anti-crime party-list solon wants Sinas suspended over birthday 'mass gathering'

An anti-crime party-list congresswoman on Thursday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately suspend National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Major General Debold Sinas over the "mañanita" for his birthday that allegedly violated rules on social distancing, mass gathering, and the wearing of mask.

In a statement, ACT CIS party-list Representative Jocelyn Tulfo said that Sinas issuing an apology for the mass gathering that has since gone viral and drawn flak on social media is not enough to absolve him from liability. Under the recently released modified enhanced quarantine guidelines, mass gatherings with more than five people are prohibited.

"The Philippine National Police leadership should suspend him immediately pending an investigation on his clear violation of the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act and  laws on abuse of authority," she said.

"The PNP Internal Affairs Service should be directed to launch an investigation. Among the tasks should be to identify every single person who attended that birthday party because they also violated the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act for the mass gathering," she added.

If the PNP leadership would not take action, then Interior Secretary Eduardo Año himself should order Sinas' suspension and place him on floating status, Tulfo said.

Administrative and criminal charges may also be filed against Sinas, she added.

"General Sinas is not indispensable. There are other officers who can take his place. He lost all credibility on implementing the Bayanihan Act by violating it himself," Tulfo said.

"The law applies to all. This is what the equal protection clause in the 1987 Constitution means. No one is above the law," she added.

PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa has already directed the Internal Affairs Service to conduct a probe into Sinas' birthday celebration.

Sinas himself has also apologized for what happened during his birthday, but claimed that some of the photos that circulated were "edited."

He also said he would not take a leave pending investigation of his controversial mañanita unless he will be ordered to do so.

Authorities is set to file on Friday criminal charges against Sinas and other “senior police officials” who attended his birthday gathering. As to administrative charges, the PNP is still seeking clearance from the Office of the President. -MDM, GMA News