Lacson defends Sinas against bashers

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday appealed to the public to stop bashing Metro Manila's top cop, Police Major General Debold Sinas, who got involved in a controversial mañanita amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

"P/MGen Debold Sinas has been bashed, criticized and pilloried both on social and mainstream media. He has since apologized and regretted his indiscretion," Lacson said in a Twitter post.

"We may also want to consider his long law-enforcement service and his share to keep Metro Manila safe from the virus," added the former chief of the Philippine National Police.

In a separate statement, Lacson added: "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 Rather, it is an appeal to concerned netizens not to rub salt to injury by going to the extent of posting out-of-date photos to sow more hatred towards Sinas by exploiting the naïveté of certain individuals to join the bandwagon of hate towards the police officer."

"Certainly, he should get the punishment he deserves even as the appropriate authorities are already investigating him," he further said.

P/MGen Debold Sinas has been bashed, criticized and pilloried both on social and mainstream media. He has since apologized and regretted his indiscretion. We may also want to consider his long law-enforcement service and his share to keep Metro Manila safe from the virus.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) May 15, 2020

Lacson earlier said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief did not set a good example to the public.

"More than the quarantine violation, from whatever direction we look at the incident, it projects a bad example, coming even from those tasked to enforce the ECQ," he said.

Criminal charges are being readied against Sinas and other senior police officials who attended his birthday celebration last week, according to Malacañang on Thursday.

The PNP also vowed that Sinas and other cops involved will be held accountable for the incident which drew criticism as mass gatherings are prohibited under the enhanced community quarantine.

Photos of the event which were posted on the official Facebook page of the NCRPO-Public Information Office showed that social distancing was not observed.

Sinas already apologized for what transpired but claimed that some of the photos circulating online were edited and grabbed from old posts. — Dona Magsino/RSJ/AOL, GMA News