New PNP Chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas (File photo)
MANILA – Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas on Tuesday assumed as the 25th chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), vowing to sustain the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, corruption, and criminality.
"We will focus on sustaining and enhancing the President’s commitment in the eradication of illegal drugs, corruption, terrorism, illegal gambling, and other criminalities," Sinas said in his inaugural speech in rites held at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.
He replaced now retired Gen. Camilo Cascolan who led the PNP for two months.
Sinas said the drug enforcement units will be revitalized so they can focus attention in going after high-value targets and policemen who are involved in the illegal drugs trade.
"On the campaign against illegal drugs, we will revitalize the different drug enforcement units to focus their operation on anti-illegal drugs in the apprehension of high value targets or individuals and in the identification and neutralization of the remaining ninja and narco cops including their associates and associated networks," he said.
He said drug enforcement units will be manned by personnel “with no reported or suspected involvement in illegal drugs” to ensure integrity while personnel with bad records will be replaced.
"Administrative cases will be resolved properly and immediately and penalty will be implemented in order to remove corrupt and undisciplined personnel in the police service," he said.
Sinas promised to "fortify the competency" of police operatives working in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs by equipping them "with the right knowledge, skills through training, and equipment".
On Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte has looked into Sinas’ track record and contribution to the administration’s aggressive anti-illegal drugs campaign before appointing him as new PNP chief.
Roque said Duterte’s marching order to Sinas is to continue the government’s campaign against illegal drugs and ensuring that the country is a safe place to live in.
Sinas said all police personnel are also directed not to play golf during office hours and should adhere to the standing directive of Duterte against going to gambling places or casinos.
"Any member of the PNP who will be involved in corrupt practices will not be tolerated and will be immediately investigated and dismissed from the police service if found guilty under the PNP disciplinary mechanism or in the proper court of law," said Sinas.
Sinas said policemen should also strictly observe discipline inside police camps and police stations. Otherwise, he said administrative charges may be pursued against them.
He also said police visibility will be improved, adding 85 percent of policemen should be deployed in the streets.
"In the campaign against criminality, to optimize police service to the community, police visibility will be strengthened through the 15 and 85 deployment scheme wherein 15 percent will be on duty at the headquarters to do administrative functions and the 85 (percent) will be in the field for more focused police operations, crime prevention through patrolling and police visibility," said Sinas.
He said police personnel should “walk the talk” when upholding the rule of law.
“To the men and women of PNP, I expect nonetheless, together with the command group, that we will solidly volt in one aspiration in achieving the mandate of peace and front-liners in upholding the rule of law,” he said.
Sinas, who hails from Butuan City, is an alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Hinirang Class of 1987.
Before his appointment as Metro Manila police chief in October 2019, he also served as director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO 7), deputy regional director for administration of the PRO 12 (Soccsksargen), and director of the PNP Crime Laboratory.
He will serve as the head of the police force until May 2021. (PNA)
