NCRPO chief Sinas on cops ‘protecting’ prostitution dens: It’s an unvalidated assumption

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas on Thursday dismissed allegations that policemen are protecting prostitution dens which are allegedly being operated by Chinese nationals.

“As the regional director, I can guarantee that the theory that there are personnel within our ranks who collude with Chinese prostitution syndicates is an unvalidated assumption,” Sinas said in a statement.

Sinas noted that Metro Manila cops continue to conduct several raids and operations against these syndicates.

“Up to this moment, we are ceaselessly working on intensifying our efforts to eradicate the proliferation of this prostitution syndicates,” Sinas said.

Sinas also assured the public that if there are really cops who are into illegal activities such as prostitution, they will be penalized.

“The NCRPO is invigorating its revitalized internal cleansing program to cleanse our rank from scalawags and erring members,” Sinas said.

“We have a dedicated unit working on this and guaranteed, there is zero tolerance among our ranks and I will personally ensure that such personnel will be identified and made to suffer the consequences of their ill actions,” he added.

It was opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros who had alleged that cops are conniving with operators of prostitution dens.

"That’s possible kasi kung sino ang nagbabantay, kung masyadong marami ang nakakalusot o hindi nabibigyan ng pansin, hindi na su-surveillance, hindi nare-raid, hindi nare-rescue ‘yung mga prostituted women, magdududa ka talaga that there may be personnel even within our PNP who are also colluding and being corrupted, profiting from it, even protecting those trafficking and prostitution syndicates,” Hontiveros had said in an interview on ANC television.

Earlier, Philippine National Police chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa ordered for an intensified campaign against prostitution.

This came after presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo had mentioned that the government wants to look into the Chinese prostitution in the country alongside with the proliferation of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Meanwhile, Sinas called on the public to report to authorities if they have immediate information about the operation of syndicates. — RSJ, GMA News