New top cop Sinas: The PNP must walk the talk

Newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas, who allowed a birthday celebration in his honor to continue despite quarantine measures forbidding mass gatherings, urged policemen to always remember their duty to uphold and enforce the law.

"Lagi nating tandaan ang ating sinumpaang tungkulin bilang tagapagpatupad ng batas," Sinas said in his assumption speech in Camp Crame on Tuesday.

"Simple lamang po ang gusto ko bilang ama ng organisasyon, we should walk the talk in the PNP. Magtrabaho tayo ayon sa ating mandato tungo sa ligtas at matahimik na mamamayan," he said.

Sinas became the subject of online outrage in May, when his colleagues threw him a birthday celebration, or "mañanita," while Metro Manila was still under an enhanced community quarantine, meaning that mass gatherings were not allowed in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Sinas' superiors defended the party, with Interior Secretary Eduardo Año saying that a mañanita is police tradition and not "deliberate partying," though he conceded that the mass gathering should not have happened during lockdown.

The PNP chief at the time, Archie Gamboa, said that he did not believe any violation was committed, but later ordered Internal Affairs to investigate the incident.

While the PNP insisted that Sinas would be held accountable for the party, the criminal charges against him over the alleged violation s did not prevent him from being named to succeed Police General Camilo Cascolan as PNP chief by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.

Duterte had earlier backed Sinas, saying that it was not his fault that others wanted to celebrate his birthday.

Before the mañanita, Sinas was controversial for a series of killings that took place in the province of Negros Oriental in July 2019 when he was regional director. The local government as well as rights watchdog Human Rights Watch had urged for a deep and thorough probe into at least 14 fatal shootings in the province.

Voltes V

In his speech Sinas also made a reference to 1970s Japanese anime Voltes V, of which he appears to be a fan.

"We will solidly volt in one aspiration of achieving our mandate as servants of peace and frontliners in upholding the rules of law. Kung hindi kayo makiki-volt-in sa amin, si Voltes V na mismo ang mag-evict sa iyo..." he added.

The cartoon series' theme song was played when his personal flag was raised at the ceremony, and Sinas received a Voltes V cake during the mañanita.

Sinas also promised that the 218,000-strong PNP will focus on sustaining and enhancing the Duterte administration's efforts of eradicating illegal drugs, corruption, terrorism, illegal gambling and other criminalities.

"We will continue the effective programs and approaches to these problems that already brought positive outcomes and feedback from our community," Sinas said.

"I will do away with the tradition of laying down an agenda as chief PNP but instead, I would like to manifest my intention to pursue the new narrative of the PNP that has been written and set by my predecessors that requires continuity. I will build on the strengths and successes, align with the established PNP thrust, missions and objectives," he added.

Sinas is a member of the Philippine Military Academy "Hinirang" Class of 1987. He replaced retired police general Camilo Pancratius Cascolan. — BM, GMA News