Duterte: I'll 'pardon' Sinas over mañanita if he has fault

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said that he would pardon now Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas over the mañanita controversy, saying that it was only a “small thing.”

In a video clip released by Malacañang, the president said that he was taking full responsibility for naming Sinas as the new PNP chief despite allegations that Sinas violated the ban on mass gatherings and the social distancing rules for holding a mañanita on his birthday in May.

“Alam mo kasi ‘yang mañanita, it’s a religious, almost a religious ritual. Nakaugalian na talaga ng mga Pilipino. Hindi kasalanan ng pobreng Sinas na ‘yan na pumunta sila doon, hindi naman niya alam,” Duterte said.

“At kung may kasalanan siya doon, pardon na siya. Wala akong nakitang kasalanan na masama na may moral implications, may kasamang malisya, wala,” he added.

Malacanang earlier said that Sinas appointment will not absolve him of liability for the mañanita mess. He is currently facing criminal charges over his birthday celebration.

The president has previously defended Sinas, saying that he would not remove the official from his post despite the controversy.

“Hindi naman kailangan mag labas siya doon ng mga mask. It happened. Well, it was bad na ‘yung mga pumunta doon hindi nila inisip. But dahil naman sumusunod lang sila sa almost religious practice of mañanita,” Duterte said.

“We sing a person a happy birthday ang wishing para naman i-endear ng tao sa trabaho niya at sa buhay niya. Maliit na bagay ‘yun,” he added.

Sinas has also urged the public to move on from the issue, saying that the decision on the criminal complaints filed against him is already in the hands of the Taguig City Prosecutor's Office. —JST, GMA News