Just before, he ended his speech midnight of May 20, President Rodrigo Duterte addressed the issue surrounding embattled National Capital Region Police Chief (NCRPO) Major General Debold Sinas. He said he does not want Sinas removed from his post.
“The law is law pero akin na ‘yon. He stays there until further order,” said Duterte.
“Akin na ‘yon” could refer to the colloquial phrase of asking a favor or a giveaway in goodwill or to let something pass as a favor to the person requesting. It could also translate to “this is mine” or “this is on me.”
“Ako yung ayaw malipat siya. He is a good officer. An honest one. Hindi nya kasalanan na may mangharana sa kanya… Hindi ako sang-ayon. I will not just… pinag-aralan ko yung merits at demerits…,” Duterte asserted.
[I don’t want him transferred. He is a good officer. An honest one. It was not his fault he was serenaded. I do not agree. I will not just.. I studied the merits and demerits,” he asserted.
Duterte also referred to the seniority of Sinas over other officers, that now leaned more on a culture of patronage that an institution like the police has been known to follow.
“Kailangan ko yung tao. (I need the man) Seniority… It is his time to be there. I don’t believe in firing him…,” Duterte explained.
Duterte in the same speech said earlier, “When you mess up with the law, I will see to it that you go to prison for your kalokohan niyo (mischief). The law is the law is the law. The rule is the rule is the rule.”
He was warning local government units on anomalies that may arise in the government’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
Many who caught the speech that started before midnight and ended more than 30 minutes later reacted on Duterte’s contradictory statements in one speech.
It took him only 20 minutes to contradict himself. pic.twitter.com/THBpMSPNgp
— Juan Miguel Severo ?️? (@TheRainBro) May 19, 2020
President Duterte
vs
President Duterte 10 mins after pic.twitter.com/RpygGoauFx
— Austine #MassTestingPH (@austinedal1) May 19, 2020
Dura Lex, Spandex: The law is harsh but it can stretched.
Dura Lex, Pyrex: The law is harsh but it can be broken
Eh mas bias pa pala si Duterte kesa sa ABS-CBN eh. "The law is the law unless you are a kaalyado." That's bullshit! #OustDuterteNow https://t.co/UP1HxJJLg7
— Dura Lex, Durex (@LegendJireh) May 19, 2020
DDS script on ABS-CBN shutdown: Law is Law. No one is above the law.
President Duterte on Sinas: I AM THE LAW ! ???
— レオナルド (@michaeldetor) May 19, 2020
Philippine National Police chief Police General Archie Gamboa said on May 18 that Sinas will not be replaced in his post as he is overseeing a lot of programs related to the COVID-19 emergency, despite criminal charges a unit of the police agency was said to have filed against Sinas and 18 others identified on the photos on May 15.
