Calls for National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major Debold Sinas to resign or be arrested mount as he continues to deny the party or violations committed during his birthday celebration.

Sinas was given a birthday party in Camp Bagong Diwa when he turned 55 on May 8.  The photos of the celebration were posted on the same day by the NCRPO’s Public Information Office showed Sinas and dozens of cops in violation of the government’s ban on mass gatherings, physical distancing, and wearing of face masks. These photos went viral on social media on May 13, drawing flak from netizens and various sectors.

 

Series of denials

Sinas said the post were grabbed from old photos. But some pointed out the photos showed people in face mask, Sinas himself in some of them, telling of the lockdown and pandemic period. The tarpaulin for Sinas also indicated the government COVID-19 pandemic response mantra “We Heal As One.”

Some netizens pointed out that it was the NCRPO Public Information Office that posted the photos and indicated it happened on May 8.

 

Another post attested to the party happening on May 8.

 

 

Some netizens pointed out that in the page of the regional director in the NCRPO website, a “May 8 Extraordinary Birthday Celebration of RD NCRPO” was listed among the day-to-day accomplishments of Sinas.

 

Sinas also said the photos were edited. People poked fun of the claim the photos were edited.

 

Sinas also said there was no party and people ate “packed lunch.” However, photos showed people lining up on a buffet spread.

Some mocked the denial of the existence of a party.

 

The police officers also celebrated with beer, while many cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) are under liquor ban or “stay sober” ordinances. Taguig, where the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa is located, is only one of two cities that did not implement a liquor ban throughout the duration of the almost two months of lockdown in NCR.

 

The post of photos of the birthday has been deleted following criticisms. Photos showed Sinas blowing candles on a cake, men singing and playing a guitar for those gathered, and full or crowded tables where cops are eating food and drinking beer.

 

 

Non-apology

On May 14, Sinas apologized for the event.

“I apologize for what transpired during my birthday that caused anxiety to the public. It was never my intention to disobey any existing protocols,” he said

However, he also said there is nothing wrong with the gathering.

“Wala pong mali doon…It would be ungentlemanly kung ‘di ko sila hinarap at pinauwi ko sila Sinas said in an interview with CNN Philippines on May 14.

[There was nothing wrong there…It would be ungentlemanly if I did not face them and if I sent them home.]

Many found his apology a non-apology or a case of “sorry, not sorry.”

 

 

In defense of Sinas

On May 12, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Archie Gamboa had already defended Sinas.

“Una, walang party’ng nangyari ang sabi ni Gen. Sinas. Probably nagkaroon ng mañanita pero doon sa mañanita ang sabi ni Gen. Sinas is that inobserve pa rin nila ‘yong mga social distancing. Now, I don’t think na meron namang violation ito,” Gamboa said in a press briefing.

Gamboa also said that parties per se is not a sure violation of the strict lockdown guidelines.

“So hindi pa talaga natin alam kung allowed ‘yong parties kasi alam naman natin kapag may party ang pinaka-vulnerable na puwedeng violation dito would be mass gathering. So we really don’t know as of yet, but as of ngayon, bawal kasi wala pa naman nilalabas na detailed policy about this,” he added.

In the May 13 government briefing announcing the guidelines for the modified ECQ, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said that it was not a birthday party, but a mañanita, a tradition in the force for its officers when they welcome the birthday on its first hours, blow candles on a cake and share food.

The NCRPO is a division with jurisdiction over NCR under the PNP, that is, in turn, an attached agency of the DILG. The DILG is a government agency in the executive department headed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Año as DILG Secretary serves as “alter ego” of the president on matters under the DILG’s concerns and was appointed by Duterte as mandated by law.

Gamboa would later announce he ordered an inquiry into the incident and said the PNP is not exempt from lockdown rules. Año, while parrying claims that it was a party, said the gathering is “a no-no” and should have called it off when it started.

Some netizens mocked police and government top officials for still trying to excuse Sinas.

 

Sinas said he will not take a leave of absence unless ordered to do so by the PNP Chief or the President while the investigation is ongoing.

Some said there will not be an independent investigation as it will be a unit of PNP who will investigate one of its top officers and that the PNP chief has absolved Sinas and company prior to the investigation.

 

Super spreaders and pasaway

Youth Movement Against Tyranny convenor Paco Perez raised the alarm that the police are “super spreaders.”

“These policemen are those who people encounter at checkpoints and are allowed to roam freely within the areas under lockdown. They are spreaders of the disease as COVID-19 cases among police rise and they even had to gather for a party for Sinas,” said Perez.

Perez remarked that police has perpetrated the narrative that quarantine violators are those who are ‘pasaway.’

“These people they call ‘pasaway’ go out because of hunger, lack of space, looking for livelihood or food, to borrow or find a way. And even the DOH data showed that almost one of five COVID-19 cases are health workers. There are also many in jails–people deprived of liberty who did not go out of their premises. There are also many cases in the police,” said Perez.

He said the ‘pasaway’ narrative has also been conveniently used to deflect blame on the people for the repeated lockdown extension. But it is the continued rise in cases and the lack of mass testing that prevented identification of clusters of transmission and breaking them to stop the spread of the disease.

“Meanwhile, these police whose food and needs are provided, salaries were doubled by Duterte can party and have full bellies. Did the people’s money pay for the birthday party of Sinas?,” said Perez.

Perez said the people will also shoulder the cost of the testing for the police force, especially when they decide to test those who joined the birthday party.

Some remembered how ordinary people’s efforts were stopped due to alleged quarantine or social distancing violations, while the same was not observed in the mañanita of Sinas.

 

As of May 13, the PNP has recorded 179 COVID-19 cases, including 4 deaths and 57 recoveries. They are also monitoring 638″probable and 389 suspect COVID-19 cases.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headquarters Camp Karingal was placed under lockdown on May 9, after 14 cops tested positive, but was announced only on May 11. Of the 14 who tested positive, one is a member of Joint Task Force NCR and 13 are QCPD cops. Ten are based in Camp Karingal, while the other 3 are assigned to different police stations. Entry and exit to and from the camp was prohibited from 5pm on May 9, until 5 pm on May 12. Testing were conducted for 219 personnel out of the 1,563 population in the camp. The 115 results released already turned up 14 positive.

 

Arrest quarantine violators

On April 19, the PNP reported that they have arrested, fined and warned  130,177 violators. Of the number, Luzon has the highest number of violators with 80,180; followed by Mindanao with 26,216; and, Visayas with 23,781 violators since the ECQ was implemented on March 17. Police arrested “quarantine violators” or for simply being an unauthorized person outside their homes.

Some demanded that Sinas be arrested now.

 

Some also demanded that Sinas or other PNP top brass order the arrest of those who joined the NCRPO chief’s birthday party.

 

Meanwhile, Año on April 21 said that quarantine violators will face jail time.

“The order is arrest anyone violating the quarantine. Prepare detention facilities and let them suffer the inconvenience. If allowed, we want them jailed all throughout the quarantine (period) so they could no longer set a bad example to others,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a TV interview.

Sinas issued a stern warning in March to people that community quarantine violators would face arrest.

“Arestuhin ‘yong hindi sumunod sa guidelines. If the guidelines have already been passed and it’s been disseminated, those who will violate will be arrested,” Sinas said.

[Arrest those who don’t follow the guidelines.]

But some asked, can Sinas apply this warning to himself?

 

 

Some averred that people should no longer be arrested for quarantine violations if Sinas will not be arrested.

 

Some raised that police and military officials other than Sinas have committed violations during the lockdown.

 

Activists and human rights defenders also want people to remember who Sinas is to them.

 

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