PNP chief Gamboa: No mañanita on my birthday

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Tuesday said he ordered that no mañanita will be allowed on his birthday on Wednesday.

"Wala tayong celebration saka walang mañanita. I already issued a directive na walang mag-attempt mag-mañanita. Sabi nila Zoom. Ggigisingin ninyo ako tapos magzu-zoom lang tayo, huwag na..." Gamboa told reporters in Camp Crame.

Gamboa is set to retire from police service on September 2. As of now, there is no announcement yet if his term will be extended or if he will be offered a new position in the government.

Mañanita is a tradition among the military and police where the subordinates greet their commander celebrating a birthday at the early break of the morning.

To recall, National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Major General Debold Sinas was criticized for his mañanita in May despite the prohibition on mass gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sinas had insisted that during his birthday celebration, guests observed social distancing. He even said some of the photos that circulated online, which drew flak from netizens, were old posts.

Despite calls to remove Sinas from his post, President Rodrigo Duterte defended him and said the NCRPO chief was a good police officer and an honest one.

Gamboa ordered a probe on the incident. But he also said it was difficult to replace Sinas as the latter was leading in the implementation of quarantine protocols in Metro Manila.

The Philippine National Police's Internal Affairs Service filed a criminal complaint against Sinas and 18 other police officers and men over his birthday celebration.

They have been accused of violating Republic Act No. 11332 or the law on the mandatory reporting of notifiable diseases and health events of public concern as well as of violating Taguig City's ordinance requiring the wearing of face masks and physical distancing. — RSJ, GMA News