Just as the Philippine National Police is trying to salvage its wretched image, coming off the shameful “ninja cops” scandal, the PNP’s Metro Manila regional chief P/Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas appears determined to ruin it altogether for the country’s 29-year-old law enforcement organization.
Sinas reportedly attacked a female GMA7 television newscaster who tried to interview him during the course of the ocular at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, the starting site of the Traslacion this coming January. The reporter was among the group of PNP beat reporters invited to accompany ranking PNP officials to the event last Friday.
The first time she tried to get a sound byte of Sinas, the official stopped her from talking by arrogantly placing his hand on her mouth and saying, “Mamaya ka na (I’ll get to you later.).”
Minutes later, the reporter approached the official again. Instead of responding to her, the NCRPO chief went ballistic and grabbed her by the face, forcibly shoving his hand over her mouth, almost suffocating her. And then Sinas blurted, “Di ba sabi ko sa iyo mamaya na (Didn’t I tell you we’ll talk later?).”
Having been extremely embarrassed and humiliated, the GMA 7 news reporter abruptly left with her crew.
This incident has prompted widespread protests from the media sector led by the National Press Club, the oldest professional organization of journalists in the country. In a statement, NPC Vice President Paul Gutierrez, condemned Sinas’ criminal behavior that constitute “abuse of a woman,” a conduct unbecoming of a public official.
The incident is the latest in a series of “anti-media” action Sinas has figured in since he was designated NCRPO chief by PNP Officer-in-Charge General Archie Gamboa.
Apparently, he does not seem able to process the fact that he has landed the juicy NCRPO’s top post in a shakeup, a public relations move in the wake of the PNP’s most disgraceful scandal that cost the career and post of the most recent PNP Chief, retired General Oscar Albayalde.
Small wonder that the crime incidence in Metro Manila has risen, highlighted by kidnaping for ransom activities by Chinese mafia and their local cohort.
Illegal drugs trafficking are rampant, illegal gambling and prostitution, particularly in Quezon City where Sinas chose to hold a “satellite office,” are now widespread in the nation’s capital region.
The reporter has declined further public comment on her traumatic experience in the hand of this official, pending an inquiry of the incident by GMA network.
“Sinas may have an attitude problem. To my recollection, he’s the only chief who has ever acted this way against us,” Gutierrez said.
Sinas got off to a bad start when he unceremoniously threw out the NCRPO press corps from their long-time press office in QCPD station on EDSA, Kamuning.
The official has also publicly defended a group of his men who were caught actually trying to smuggle contrabands, including cellphones and cigarettes, into the New Bilibid Prison allegedly intended for imprisoned druglords. We wonder whatever happened to the investigation on that case.
Lately, NCRPO beat reporters said the officials refuse to be transparent, unilaterally shutting down the reporters’ Viber group. So, what is Sinas trying to hide this time?
The NCRPO public information office, in a statement, justified Sinas’ actions, saying that the TV reporter unduly “butted in” during the official’s conversation with Quiapo Parish priest Msgr. Hernando Coronel.
Next thing you know, the NCRPO chief’s office would be justifying the rise of crime incidence, kidnaping-for-ransom, illegal drugs trafficking and illegal gambling in Metro Manila.
I hope the President realizes that Sinas is a liability to his administration.