Sinas stays as NCRPO chief pending probe results

Sinas drew flak after photos of a “mañanita” or early morning birthday serenade at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City went viral on social media last May 8. (File Photo: PIO NCRPO/Facebook)

MANILA – Metro Manila police chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas will remain in his post while there is an ongoing investigation on his birthday party celebration amid the enhanced community quarantine, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, denied reports circulating on social media that a new chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) was already appointed.

“Fake news ‘yan. Stay muna siya (That is fake news. He will stay in the post) until further notice. No movement among top officials yet,” Banac said in a message.

He added that the Inspector General of the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) will file criminal charges before the Taguig City Prosecutors Office on Friday against Sinas and other NCRPO officials.

Banac, however, did not reveal the criminal cases that will be filed against them.

Sinas drew flak after photos of a “mañanita” or early morning birthday serenade at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City went viral on social media last May 8.

In the photos released by the NCRPO public information office, it was noticeable that the police officials failed to observe physical distancing. The photos were deleted shortly after the incident.

On Thursday night, PNP chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa said Sinas and other NCRPO officials will be held accountable for their individual culpability as he ordered the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to investigate the incident.