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MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte was considering the “overall performance” of the head of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Gen. Debold, when he expressed his intention to pardon the country’s top police officer if found guilty in the case. of “mañanita” presented against him.
This was stated by the Secretary of Justice, Menardo Guevarra, who also pointed out that the executive pardon can only be granted if a person is found guilty of a case after an adequate procedure.
“The president is well aware that a case is still pending and is simply indicating his intention to act liberally, in consideration of General Sinas’ overall performance as a career police officer,” Guevarra said in a message to reporters when he was wanted. comment on the executive director’s recent statements on Sinas.
In a speech Saturday, Duterte said he would pardon Sinas if the latter is found guilty of the indictment brought against him for violating quarantine rules intended to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the celebration of his 55th birthday last May. .
Despite what the president said, Guevarra assured that the Department of Justice (DOJ) “will do what it has to do.”
“The DOJ / prosecutor has to complete the preliminary investigation process. [E]Executive clemency can come only after a guilty plea. [I]If there is no guilt, there is no place for the request for executive clemency ”, explained the chief of justice.
“‘[I]If he is at fault ‘it indicates that the President will wait for the determination of guilt or guilt after an adequate procedure, whether administrative or criminal, ”added Guevarra.
Sinas assumed the position of head of the PNP on November 10. His appointment generated mixed reactions, with some lawmakers supporting the president’s decision while others criticized it.
The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives had warned of more human rights violations, recalling arrests and extrajudicial executions during Sinas’ tenure as police director for central Visayas from 2018 to 2019.
Central Visayas saw an increase in unsolved murders of people linked to the illegal drug trade under the surveillance of Sinas, according to the Human Rights Commission (CHR) in the region.
/ MUF
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