Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas said he is okay having a short tenure as the country's top cop.
"Salamat po, sir, pero okay na po ako, sir, sa time ng pagserbisyo ko para po naman mapagbigyan naman po 'yong iba (Thank you, but I am already okay with the time given to me to serve as PNP chief, so that others can be given a chance, too)," Sinas said during a hearing of the Senate justice and human rights committee's hearing on Thursday, January 27.
Before this, Senator Richard Gordon asked Sinas about stint as police chief, saying he plans to file a bill that would give PNP chiefs a fixed term of two years.
Sinas, who was just appointed as PNP chief in November 2020, is set to retire on May 8, this year, when he turns 56. Policemen are mandated by law to retire from PNP service at age 56.
"Parang nanghihinayang ako na tatlong buwan lang kayo o apat na buwan lang, eh dapat you have to make your mark (I regret that you serve for only three months or four months, because you have to make your mark)...Talagang kulang sa oras 'yan (That's really short)," Gordon lamented.
"Hindi po ba nahihirapan ang kapulisan natin kung...'yong mga long term plans na dapat pairalin hindi magagawa?" he also said.
While admitting this, Sinas assured Gordon of continuation in the PNP's policies, saying the short tenure of the chiefs does not affect their long-term programs.
"What we could assure you, your honors, na 'yong (is that our) long term programs po namin ay hindi po namin pinabayaan po ‘yan po 'yan (will not be neglected), sir. We are already institutionalized na maski sino po ang maging (that whoever will be the next) chief PNP, as long as the policies are all set and laid out, tuloy tuloy po ‘yan (will continue)," he said.
"Hindi po yan sir, 'pag may policy pabago-bago, 'yong mga long-term program at policy namin ay tuloy-tuloy, sir (It's not like we will change our long-term programs and policies). Hindi po binabago kung sino po ang nakaupo (We do not change them based on who is PNP chief)."
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, former PNP chief, also commented: "Siguro ang gustong punto na i-drive ni Gen. Sinas (Maybe the point that Gen Sinas is driving at) is that it’s not how long you serve, but it is how you serve)."