Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas blows candles on his birthday cake during the celebration of his 55th birthday on May 8. Image: Facebook/@NCRPO.PH
Metro Manila police chief Debold Sinas’s controversial “mañanita” may be a “closed issue” for some, such as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa. However, some celebrities refuted his remark on social media.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director and more than a dozen party guests allegedly violated quarantine protocols during Sinas’s celebration at Camp Bagong Diwa on May 8. During the event, they were photographed without masks and standing close to each other.
Cheats singer Saab Magalona, actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith and veteran singer Leah Navarro stressed that the “mañanita” is still an issue on their respective Twitter accounts today, July 30.
“STILL AN ISSUE,” Curtis-Smith said in all caps, retweeting the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s report on Gamboa’s statement.
STILL AN ISSUE https://t.co/Out0S2oRxn
— Jasmine (@jascurtissmith) July 30, 2020
Magalona meanwhile asked followers to retweet her post if they think it is still an issue for them.
The musician’s post has over 28,000 retweets as of this writing.
‼️RETWEET IF IT'S STILL AN ISSUE‼️ https://t.co/iTa6P0uRwH
— Saab (@saabmagalona) July 30, 2020
“The surprise ‘mañanita’ of Sinas will remain an issue for as long as this admin does nothing to bring [COVID-19] cases down, adequately care for the sick, and help our poorest,” Navarro said. “It is evidence of the arrogance and incompetence of the inutil (useless) president, Duterte.”
The surprise “mañanita” of Sinas will remain an issue for as long as this admin does nothing to bring COVID19 cases down, adequately care for the sick, and help our poorest. It is evidence of the arrogance and incompetence of the inutil president, Duterte. https://t.co/Bmx43OtXBO
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) July 30, 2020
Sinas and 18 more police officers are facing criminal charges for violating the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and Taguig City Ordinance No. 12 Series 2020, which require the wearing of face masks and the observance of physical distancing amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Sinas later apologized for the commotion and insisted that he and his officers followed health protocols during the event.
Some lawmakers called out the police chief for setting a bad example. However, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he would be keeping Sinas in his post and was taking responsibility for the alleged violations of quarantine protocols done by the NCRPO director. NVG
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