‘Bawal ang party’: Sinas warns partygoers of arrest

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas has given a warning to the public that those who will attend parties this Christmas season will be arrested.

"Yes, bawal... Bawal ang party..." Sinas said when asked by reporters on Monday if he would immediately order the arrest of partygoers.

"We issued the directive based on the IATF that no parties should be there but di naman pinagbabawalan 'yung dinner. Ang dinner is party din eh but you have to observe 'yung required naman," he added.

Earlier, the PNP chief announced that Christmas parties are prohibited in all units of the police force as the national government discourages celebrations during the holidays.

Sinas became the subject of the public's outrage due to his birthday celebration in May despite the strict enforcement of quarantine protocols in Metro Manila due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sinas and other police officers were slapped with criminal complaints before the Taguig City Prosecutor's Office due to this incident. There is no resolution yet on the complaints.

President Rodrigo Duterte has since defended Sinas over the incident and even appointed him as the 25th PNP chief in November.

Sinas, meanwhile, gave a directive to police officers not to arrest individuals if their violation is merely improper wearing of face masks and shields. He also ordered cops to give face masks and shields to those who don't have any.

"Nagbigay po ko ng instructions na 'di na po arestuhin, kausapin na lang... kung walang mask, bigyan ng mask, kung walang shield, bigyan ng shield para po maimpose natin," Sinas said.

"We have given instruction na i-remind na lang at pagsabihan... karamihan naman po ay sumusunod," he added. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News