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Debold Sinas: The controversial but favored police general
By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA NewsPolice Major General Debold Sinas has been known to the public as the senior police official who allegedly violated quarantine protocols by having a birthday celebration in the time of COVID-19 pandemic.
Critics did not buy the justification that what took place on May 8 was mañanita, the Philippine National Police's traditional manner of greeting a birthday celebrant. Sinas was highly-criticized for the act, with some even calling for his resignation or removal as chief of the National Capital Region Police Office.
However, it seemed that luck was on Sinas' side. Not only did he retain his post but was eventually picked by President Rodrigo Duterte to lead the PNP as replacement
to outgoing chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan.Sinas belongs to the Philippine Military Academy "Hinirang" Class of 1987. His mistahs include PNP deputy chief for administration Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, PNP deputy chief for operations Police Lieutenant General Cesar Hawthorne Binag, and the chief of the Directorial Staff Police Major General Joselito Vera Cruz.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Duterte has the absolute authority to pick among the qualified generals on who will lead the police organization.
The PNP is under the Department of the Interior and Local Government. For his part, Año said he is confident that Sinas could lead the 218,000-strong PNP because of the previous posts he occupied.
"Pagka dumating naman kasi sa senior rank no, practically two-star general and up, kahit nga one-star, capable ka naman mag-lead kasi 'yung PNP is a dynamic organization nakalatag naman ang road map diyan," Año said in a phone interview.
"Kahit sino ang umupo diyan susundin naman niya 'yung programa ng PNP so General Sinas naman naging regional director sa Cebu, naging NCRPO director, dumaan naman siya sa iba’t ibang posisyon sa opisina, nakita ko naman kaya niyang gampanan 'yung chief PNP," he added.
Who is Sinas?
Prior to his post as top cop of Metro Manila, Sinas served as the chief of the Police Regional Office VII. Local reports have stated that the number of killings spiked during his term in Central Visayas.
He was the regional director when a series of killings took place in the province of Negros Oriental in July 2019. The local government as well as rights watchdog Human Rights Watch had urged for a deep and thorough probe on at least 14 fatal shootings in the province.
In its latest statement, rights group Karapatan said it is no longer surprised with Sinas' appointment as next PNP chief, saying that "Duterte has a clear penchant for rewarding the most notorious of human rights violators among his minions with rank promotions as well as higher budgets for their agencies."
The group recalled the alleged killings, illegal arrests, and detention in the course of the implementation of the Synchronized Enhanced Management of Police Operations and Oplan Sauron in the island of Negros last year.
"What lies ahead for the Filipino people with Sinas’ appointment is a bloody party of human rights violations where Duterte’s most rabid and murderous lapdogs are given free rein to merrily kill, kill, and kill with wanton impunity," Karapatan said.
"The messages being sent are clear as day: Follow the President’s orders and you will be protected and promoted, and that this fascist regime is gearing up for an intensified crackdown on dissent and assault on human rights by appointing one of its most loyal butchers as the country’s top cop," it added.
According to the PNP, Sinas also served a two-year stint as secretary of the Directorial Staff at the National Headquarters. He also headed the PNP Crime Laboratory in 2018.
He was also at the helm of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Intelligence Group (IG), Police Regional Office XII, Police Regional Office IX, Police Regional Office III, and Cordillera police in various capacities from 2003 to 2017.
Criminal raps
In his term as NCRPO chief, the mañanita was the most controversial issue he faced. Sinas apologized over the incident but insisted that during his birthday celebration, guests observed social distancing. He also said some of the photos that circulated online, which drew flak from netizens, were old posts.
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Duterte also defended Sinas and described the latter as a good police officer and an honest one.
Retired Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa, then PNP chief, had directed a probe on the incident. Gamboa said it was difficult to replace Sinas as the latter was leading the implementation of quarantine protocols in the National Capital Region.
The PNP's Internal Affairs Service filed criminal complaints against Sinas and 18 other police officers and men over his controversial birthday celebration. Right now, there is no resolution issued yet on the matter.
For Año, the complaints filed against Sinas have no effect yet on his designation as PNP chief. It could have been a different story if the preliminary probe has a result already, he added.
"Sa ngayon wala pa kasi preliminary investigation 'yung case niya so hindi pa 'yan tinatawag na pending case in court. So it would change siguro kung magkakaroon nga ng result 'yung preliminary investigation at maibigay na 'to sa court, that would have been different but for now (wala pa)," Año said.
"It's really the prerogative of the President to appoint at inappoint niya si General Sinas at ang sabi naman ng Pangulo he'll stand by it, kung mayroong criticisms because naniniwala siya na kaya naman ni General Sinas ang tungkulin bilang chief PNP," he added.
War on drugs
According to Duterte's spokesperson, Harry Roque, the President chose Sinas because of his contribution in the administration's war against drugs.
Año called on Sinas to ensure that he will meet the expectations of the President, especially in the fight against narcotics as the police have an important role in preventing the supply of illegal drugs in the country.
He added that Sinas should get rid of the remaining cops allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
"He should comply to the President and he should make sure ang expectation sa kaniya ng Presidente magampanan niya pati na rin ang Department. The war on drugs is a whole of nation approach," Año said.
"Pag ia-address naman natin 'yung supply, dalawa kasi 'yan eh demand and supply, sa supply ang kailangan naman natin dito 'yung law enforcement, PNP ang pinakamalaking role dito. At 'yan ang task ni General Sinas, siguraduhin na ang buong Philippine National Police ay magsusupport sa fight against drugs," he said.
"Hindi lang outside pati internal, kung may natitira pa diyan na ninja cops dapat mawala na 'yun..." he added.
Another chance
Following Sinas' appointment, Año urged the public to give the controversial cop a chance to prove himself. Netizens have slammed and questioned Duterte's decision to pick Sinas as they still want him to be accountable over his alleged quarantine violation.
"The President has decided and let us give General Sinas a chance to prove his worth..." Año said.
Meanwhile, retiring PNP chief Cascolan urged all police officers to rally behind the leadership of Sinas.
He said Sinas has a sterling track record in administrative management with vast experience in police operations and a well-rounded career pattern in all his command, staff and training assignments in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila.
“General Sinas needs all the support and strong commitment of the PNP Officer Corps and rank-and-file for him to effectively discharge his duties and functions as Chief PNP, Cascolan said.
“In a dynamic organization like the PNP, only the players are changed, but the strategic vision remains constant and endures until the endgame in year 2030 when we shall have completed our journey to complete organizational development and service excellence,” Cascolan said.
The change of command ceremony between Cascolan and Sinas will take place on Tuesday in Camp Crame.—AOL, GMA News