After latest Sinas protocol breach, Robredo says officials must lead by example

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said government officials should lead by example in following health measures against COVID-19 as the virus excuses no one.

Robredo made the remark after the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro said Philippine National Police chief General Debold Sinas skipped health protocols when he visited the province on Thursday. Sinas was confirmed to be infected with the virus on the same day.

The provincial government of Oriental Mindoro said Sinas did not undergo health protocols as he arrived on a helicopter and did not pass through the pier of Calapan.

The PNP said that Sinas skipped the procedure to "optimize" his time in the province. 

“Dapat nga tayo iyong example. Walang excuse kasi wala namang na-e-excuse sa virus, ‘di ba? So dapat talaga kung ano iyong policy on the ground, sumunod tayo,” Robredo said in her weekly radio show.

(We should be the ones leading by example. There should be no excuses as no one is excused from the virus, right? We should be following the policy on the ground.)

“Gaya ng sabi ko, responsibility natin na hindi tayo carrier eh. Again, maraming mga circumstances na hindi natin kotrolado pero iyong mga kontrolado natin, iyon iyong gawin natin,” she added.

(Like I said, it’s our responsibility to not be carriers. There are a lot of circumstances that are beyond our control but we should act on the ones that we can.)

Further, Robredo said this should be a lesson to everyone.

“May outrage pero gawing leksyon para sa ating lahat. Dapat maging reminder siya sa ating lahat na maging responsable,” she said.

(There is outrage but this should also be a lesson to everyone. Sinas’ case should be a reminder to all of us to be responsible.)

Earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Sinas should be investigated over the matter.

Last year, Sinas became controversial after pictures of his birthday celebration showed alleged violations of strict health protocols in Metro Manila amid the quarantine.

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.

President Rodrigo Duterte, however, defended the police general and even promoted him to chief of the police force. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News