Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan on Wednesday said controversial police officer Gen. Debold Sinas deserved to be promoted to a higher position.
Cascolan made the remark as PNP mulls over plans to reshuffle police officials within the 200,000-strong law enforcement agency.
“He has done good things, “ Cascolan said, referring to Sinas, who became controversial in May after his friends and fellow PNP officials serenaded him with a mañanita or pre-dawn birthday song at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City that allegedly violated the 10-people limit on gatherings to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“We have to evaluate him properly. The guy deserves also an evaluation and of course, a promotion, too,” Cascolan said in a television interview.
“I think he has to be up at the Directorial Staff or a certain position that is for most especially for him. He (Sinas) is an expert most especially with regard to training of personnel and training of recruits,” the police chief said.
Following the controversial birthday party celebration, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Franklin Drilon criticized the NCRPO chief, saying that his actions set a bad example and put the PNP and the NCRPO itself in a bad light.
Senator Drilon said that because of the controversy, the NCRPO and the PNP itself lost their credibility in implementing the health protocol and other restrictions being imposed by the government to prevent the spread of the virus.
President Duterte, however, said he would not fire or replace Sinas even as the Interior and Local Government Department said the conduct of Sinas birthday party was a big ‘no-no.
Sinas himself later told critics to ‘move on’ from mañanita controversy and also thanked President Duterte.
Sinas and 18 other police officers are still facing face criminal charges before the
Taguig prosecutor’s office for violating City Ordinance No. 12 of Taguig City, which requires the wearing of masks in public, and Republic Act 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
Last July, Sinas again made the headlines over the viral confrontation with the family of a retired officer that he and his men asked to leave from a government compound in Taguig City.
Cascolan said he might replace Sinas at the NCRPO with Calabarzon police chief Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., former head of the Manila police.
As NRCPO chief, Danao will supervise the five police districts in Metro Manila – the Central (Quezon City), Northern, Eastern, Southern, and the Manila police district.
“He is doing good. He did his best and he’s done good in PRO-4A. He has a reputation in the service and he is a very competent person, too,” Cascolan said of Danao.
Other sources said that Danao may be transferred to head the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
“Whether it’s CIDG or NCR, it’s good. But I would rather choose him for NCR because he’s better in leading the NCRPO,” Cascolan said, adding that both Danao and Sinas are “capable of leading men… [and] capable of giving accomplishments.”
Danao was the chief of the Davao City Police Station during the time of then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte until 2016. He also served as director of the Manila Police District before he was transferred to Southern Tagalog or Region 4-A.
Cascolan earlier succeeded police Gen. Archie Gamboa, who officially retired on Wednesday, Sept. 16 after nearly eight months as PNP chief.
Before replacing Gamboa, Cascolan served as deputy chief for administration of the PNP.
Cascolan said he reshuffled 11 or 12 PNP officials due to the retirement of some of their colleagues and transferred two or three officers so he could put “the right person for the right job.”
“We need people who are snappy, good and has that moral ascendancy, and at the same time, service reputation to lead,” he said.
He likewise cancelled a “midnight appointment” made by Gamboa concerning the PNP’s health service, although he declined to name the officials involved, saying they were “also a victim.”
“I don’t have people that I choose. They’re all my people. I am a father and brother to all of them,” he said.
“All officers come and go. They know for a fact that when we have already served and we are being assigned for promotion, that will be good for us and we always follow orders.”