Attendees of Sinas' bday party should be arrested for quarantine violations —Pangilinan

Those who attended the birthday celebration of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas clearly violated quarantine protocols and must face penalties, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Wednesday.

"Kung seryoso sila sa pagpapatupad ng batas sa lahat, dapat sampahan ng kasong paglabag sa batas ang mga 'yan at ikulong kasama ang libu-libo na kinulong nila dahil sa quarantine violations," Pangilinan said in a message to reporters.

PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Tuesday denied that Sinas had a "party."

"Una walang party ang nangyari ang sabi ni General Sinas, probably nagkaroon ng mañanita pero doon sa mañanita, ang sabi [ni] General Sinas is that inobserve pa rin nila 'yung mga social distancing," he said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, nonetheless, reminded government officials and law enforcers that mass gatherings are prohibited as these may result in further spread of COVID-19.

"That is a big no no, habang nasa ECQ tayo, wala 'yung mga celebration na ganyan, 'yung mga organized dinner na ganito, hindi 'yan ano... delicadeza nga eh. Right then and there, dapat ipatigil mo," Año said.

Meanwhile, former PNP chief and incumbent Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said Sinas should have been more careful on the distribution of relief goods he also conducted in relation to his birthday.

It was reported that residents in Tondo, Manila ignored social distancing measures while claiming the said assistance.

"It could have been better if they just delivered the food packs at the doorsteps of every household to avoid mass gathering and violating the social distancing protocol," Dela Rosa said.

Gamboa, on the other hand, said Sinas assured him that social distancing has been followed during the said event.

He added that he will "look into it" if there are any quarantine protocols violated.—AOL, GMA News