Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año stressed Monday that President Duterte has the “absolute prerogative to appoint the chief PNP (Philippine National Police) from among the current PNP generals.”
Año made the statement following Duterte’s appointment of National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas as the next top cop, replacing outgoing PNP chief Police Gen. Camilo Cascolan who will retire on Nov. 10.
“PMGen. (Police Maj. Gen.) Sinas is qualified for the position. I expect Gen. Sinas to lead the PNP with intensity in the fight against illegal drugs, criminalities, extremists and communist bandits/terrorists,’’ Año said.
Año said that Sinas “must set the standards on the performance and discipline making every policeman count while leaving no room for scalawags.’’
Sinas has been a controversial police officer.
Last May, Sinas was involved in a “mañanita” (pre-dawn birthday serenade) in Camp Bagong Diwa Taguig City which violated the 10-people limit in gatherings when Luzon was in a lockdown to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
Despite the outpouring of criticisms from various sectors, mostly from the opposition, Duterte refused to sack Sinas from the NCRPO.
Two months later, Sinas also made headlines, during a viral confrontation with the family of a retired policemen where he and his men ordered them to vacate a government compound in Taguig City.
"Presidential appointments are really very executive in character. It is a prerogative of the President. And he need not make any explanation for his appointment," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.