(UPDATED) Major General Debold Sinas has been appointed as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief effective Tuesday, November 10, 2020.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced this during his regular virtual press conference on Monday, November 9, 2020.
Sinas, currently the regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), will replace PNP Chief Camilo Cascolan, who is set to retire on November 10.
Cascolan served as PNP chief for only around two months, having assumed office on September 2 to replace retired general Archie Gamboa.
Sinas served as a regional director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas.
As NCRPO chief, he was charged in May 2020 along with 18 other police officers for violating quarantine protocols when he failed to stop a mañanita (dawn celebration) for his birthday while Metro Manila was under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Sinas and the others were found to have violated City Ordinance No. 12 of Taguig City, which requires the wearing of face masks in public.
Photos uploaded on the NCRPO Facebook page also showed the lack of physical distancing in violation of ECQ rules.
The photos showed Sinas receiving roses and blowing birthday candles while his subordinates sang a birthday song for him.
The President, however, defended and decided to retain Sinas, whom he described as a “good and honest man.”
In his press conference Monday, Roque said the President did not give any explanation for the appointment of Sinas.
He stressed that appointments are a presidential prerogative and the President does not need to defend his decision. Nonetheless, he said the President looked at the track record of Sinas as an anti-drug crusader.
He noted that the President has long cited Sinas for his contribution to the administration’s war on drugs. As PNP chief, Sinas would be expected to continue this campaign, Roque added. (Marites Villamor-Ilano/SunStar Philippines)