Malacañang assured the public that the criminal charges filed against newly-appointed Philippine National Police chief P/Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas will not be affected even after being named to lead the country’s police force.
“The criminal charges against Sinas, which stemmed from his birthday party at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in May, are still pending before the city prosecutor of Taguig,” said Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
“The appointment, of course, will have no bearing on the decision on the Taguig Prosecutor's Office,” Roque said.
“This means that there is no criminal case against Chief Sinas,” the Palace spokesman said.
The administrative case against Sinas has yet to be resolved, he added.
Roque said Duterte valued Sinas’ track record and "big" contribution to the drug war.
He also said Sinas’ appointment is a presidential prerogative and Duterte need not explain his appointments.
With his appointment, at least three other senior police officials in the PNP hierarchy were bypassed by President Duterte.
This included second-in-command Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, deputy chief for administration; Lt. Gen. Hawthorne Binag, the deputy chief for operations, and Lt. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz, chief of the directorial staff.