THE IMMEDIATE superiors of two Iloilo policemen caught violating the quarantine-related liquor ban were relieved from their posts.
The rationale, according to Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, the Western Visayas police director, is straightforward and clear: “These junior officers failed to discipline their subordinates.”
Indeed, police commanders have the responsibility to ensure internal discipline among their subordinates.
Meanwhile, the cops who violated the liquor ban were sacked, too. They were also charged criminally and administratively. Erring police officers have no place in the PRO-6.
So what do we make of Prez Du30’s position to keep the National Capital Region police director, Major General Debold Sinas, despite the latter’s quarantine violation (holding a big birthday gathering)? What kind of example does our Commander-in-Chief is giving to police officers? Philippine National Police director General Archie Gamboa has taken a position similar to the President’s, too. What a shame.
Sinas, indeed, issued an apology. But the PNP leadership should suspend him immediately pending the investigation on the former’s clear violation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and laws on abuse of authority.
The PNP Internal Affairs Service should be directed to launch an investigation. Among the tasks should be to identify every single person who attended that birthday party because they also violated the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act for the mass gathering.
If the PNP leadership does not take action then it is incumbent upon Interior secretary Eduardo Año to order the suspension of Sinas and place him on floating status at the PNP headquarters. If there are doubts about the PNP IAS’ impartially probing the Sinas birthday party, then the National Police Commission or the National Bureau of Investigation can conduct the investigation.
Sinas lost all credibility on implementing the Bayanihan Act by violating it himself. There are other officers who can take his place.
The law applies to all. This is what the equal protection clause in the 1987 Constitution means. No one is above the law. This is why the Constitution has Article XI on the Accountability of Public Officers, why we have the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and why being a public officer is an aggravating circumstance in criminal and administrative proceedings.
