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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 13) – The Philippine National Police will analyze possible violations of social distancing measures during the celebration of the birthday of the Chief of the Police Office of the National Capital Region, Major General, Debold Sinas, on May 8.
PNP chief PGen. Archie Gamboa has already ordered an immediate investigation into the matter, Brig, a PNP spokesman. General Bernard Banac told CNN the Philippines on Wednesday.
“The PNP chief, PGen Archie Francisco Gamboa of the United States Department of Home Affairs, was tasked with delivering a statement on the issue of slime” that no one is above the law “in Hindi na maulit muli ang pangyayari sa ating hanay. “ Banac said.
[Translation: PNP chief PGen. Archie Francisco Gamboa already ordered the Internal Affairs Service to conduct an immediate investigation on what fully transpired in the gathering so that this may serve as warning that ‘no one is above the law’ and that no one else within their ranks will do the same thing.]However, Gamboa himself said in a virtual press Tuesday that the celebration was just a simple morning for the NCRPO chief and that the police still observed social distancing when they celebrated the party.
Even former PNP chief and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa did not agree with what appeared to be an unwelcome joy from his former colleagues.
“It could have been better if the food packages had just been delivered to the doorstep of each home to avoid mass gathering and violate social distancing protocol,” it said in a statement.
Opposition lawmakers previously criticized the NCRPO’s “insensitivity” and “double standard” for celebrating the celebration amid strict enforcement of social distancing measures under the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bayan Muna Partylist called on the “audacity” of the authorities to show their “apparent exemption” from the rules by holding a mass meeting for Sinas at Bagong Diwa camp.
“Aren’t they ashamed of themselves? First, they were callous enough to have a big birthday party in the middle of the shutdown,” Bayan Muna representative Ferdinand Gaite said in a statement. “Secondly, they had the audacity to flaunt it on the official pages of the PNP (Philippine National Police) social networks, highlighting their apparent exemption from various blocking measures, including social distancing and prohibition. of mass meetings. “
Police photos with a surprise celebration for Sinas scoured social media this week. The NCRPO public information office even uploaded an album of the meeting on Facebook, but deleted the photos early Wednesday morning following a backlash.
As seen in the photos, police officers gave Sinas roses and cakes, while the Metro Manila police officer mingles with people seated at different tables who take turns greeting him. Other photos showed him and his men sitting up close at a round table filled with beer cans, despite the liquor ban in Metro Manila.
Sinas issued an apology after the controversy, but emphasized that some of the photos were “edited” and outdated.
“Some of the images circulating on social media were edited and taken from old posts. The images may represent themselves, however they do not define the totality of what actually happened,” he said.
“However, I apologize for what happened on my birthday that caused public anxiety. It was never my intention to disobey any existing protocol related to the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine,” added Sinas.
Not ‘delicacy’
The Department of the Interior and Local Government said the celebration may be part of the usual tradition, but the police could at least have shown “delicacy” as the country continues to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
“During this time, it is not necessary. We should be aware of what they call ‘delicacy’, let us avoid carrying out such activities,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in the Philippines during the briefing in Malacañang.
‘Double standard’
For Bayan Muna’s representative, Carlos Zarate, the incident shows how authorities appear to be above the law they are supposed to implement.
“Under this administration, that has been the norm: double standards. That is the continuing normality of treating those ordinary and marginalized mortals who have recently come together to seek the much-needed relief, but instead! they got to jail! “Zárate told CNN Philippines.
Associate Justice Marvic Leonen also struck the incident.
“The Supreme Court held a retirement ceremony for a 40-year-old judge through a private videoconference ceremony,” he wrote on Twitter. “He deserves more, but we had to do what was ethical while our people suffered. #NoBirthdayParties”
Sinas himself has said in the past that those who violate blockade regulations in Metro Manila will be arrested. He has not yet responded to criticism of his birthday party.
The Health Department has repeatedly advised the public to avoid crowded places and to refrain from holding mass meetings, among other measures, to prevent the spread of the virus.
The PNP has recorded 164 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date, along with four deaths and 52 recoveries among police personnel.
The Philippines now has 11,350 infections, with 2,106 recoveries and 751 deaths, the DOH said.
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