Malacanang does not know if National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas is irreplaceable.

This,  even after Sinas and his fellow police officers drew flak over the NCRPO chief’s birthday mañanita.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s reaction was made in response to the sentiment of Philippine National Police Chief Archie Gamboa that letting Sinas go would be ill-timed at this moment with the PNP at the forefront of implementing quarantine measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Inaantay po namin ang resulta ng IAS (PNP’s Internal Affairs Service). Palasyo po ang maglalabas ng go order kung sasampahan ng administrative charge si General Sinas,” Roque said.

“Since Palasyo po ang magde-determine kung makakasuhan o hindi si Sinas, I would rather not comment on that,” Roque added.

However, Sinas will stay in his post as chief of the NCRPO, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said Monday.

Gamboa asked the public for understanding as it is difficult to replace Sinas in this time of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, noting that the cop was leading in the strict implementation of quarantine in Metro Manila.

“Yes, I hope the public would understand kasi nandito tayo sa ganito nga, may emergency situation. Kapag palitan mo siya we will never know, napakahirap palitan dahil ang dami niyang programa in relation sa COVID. Siya yung nag-establish noong mga naunang quarantine,” Gamboa said.

The PNP-IAS on Friday filed a criminal complaint against Sinas and 18 other police officers and men over his recent birthday celebration.

The PNP-IAS filed a complaint for violation of Republic Act No. 11332 or the law on the mandatory reporting of notifiable diseases and health events of public concern as well as for violation of Taguig City’s ordinance requiring the wearing of face masks and physical distancing.

Gamboa said the NCRPO has not stopped in its campaign against illegal drugs and illegal gambling.

He said since Sinas took the post as NCRPO chief, illegal gambling operations have stopped in the region.

Photos of Sinas’ birthday celebration called a mañanita were uploaded on the NCRPO Public Information Office Facebook page. The photos have since been deleted but not before they went viral.

Earlier, Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said law enforcers such as policemen should lead in following the law for them to become credible.

“No one is above the law. As law enforcers, tayo dapat ang unang susunod sa batas. The police, and all public servants, should have the decency and sensitivity sa ganitong sitwasyon na kinakaharap natin,” Eleazar said.

“Gawin natin ang tama, may nakakakita man o wala, may camera man o wala, may picture man o wala. Gawin natin ang tama dahil iyon ang magbibigay sa atin ng kredibilidad,” Eleazar added.

Sinas has apologized for the incident./Stacy Ang