Several Netizens and social media personalities were aghast about PNP Chief Debold Sinas‘s audacity to violate COVID-19 protocols and easily get away with it.
Netizen @tom_md furiously asked when would Sinas be apprehended after a repeated breach of the protocol.
“The PNP is hellbent on arresting violators of health protocols. Pero their chief has been violating the protocols since 2020.Birthday mañanita,Bypassing the health and quarantine protocols in Mindoro. Harap-harapan na ang pag labag sa batas. Kailan sya huhulihin?” he tweeted.
The PNP is hellbent on arresting violators of health protocols. Pero their chief has been violating the protocols since 2020.
✅ Birthday mañanita
✅ Bypassing the health and quarantine protocols in Mindoro.Harap-harapan na ang pag labag sa batas. Kailan sya huhulihin?
— Tom (@MATom_MD) March 13, 2021
Doctor and former IATF adviser Dr. Tony Leachon also scored Sinas for deliberate infraction of the health protocols saying the PNP chief has no moral ascendancy to order following protocols when he, himself cannot walk the talk.
“PNP Chief General Debold Sinas has no moral ascendancy to lead us in adhering to health protocols; he doesn’t walk the talk. Get well soon,” Leachon tweeted.
PNP Chief General Debold Sinas has no moral ascendancy to lead us in adhering to health protocols ; he doesn’t walk the talk.
Get well soon. https://t.co/fD8atJKY5d— Tony Leachon MD (@DrTonyLeachon) March 13, 2021
Veteran journalist Inday Espina-Varona blasted Sinas’s excuse of relapse in observing mandatory health protocols. She pointed that ordinary people get arrested due to a breach of protocols; the PNP chief, who committed several violations at several times–still could get away with it.
“Sinas admits “relapse in the observance of mandatory health protocols.” Poor people violate protocols, take-one they land in jail or get beaten up. Last year, activists who joined protests while still adhering to protocols got arrested on Sinas’ orders. Sinas deserves jail time,” she tweeted.
Sinas admits "relapse in the observance of mandatory health protocols." Poor people violate protocols, take-one they land in jail or get beaten up. Last year, activists who joined protests while still adhering to protocols got arrested on Sinas’ orders. Sinas deserves jail time
— inday espina varona (@indayevarona) March 12, 2021
PNP Chief Sinas is at the center of controversy again after avoiding health screening even though he tested positive with COVID-19.
According to the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro, Sinas skipped health screening when he arrived in the province on Thursday, March 11.
“Si Gen. Debold Sinas ay hindi dumaan sa pier ng Calapan at hindi siya kabilang sa mga na-profile na kawani ng PGOM (Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro). Siya ay dumating sa lalawigan lulan ng helicopter,” the statement read.
“Ikinalulungkot ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ang pangyayaring ito,” they added.
Sinas tested positive with the COVID-19 on Thursday, March 11.
It is not the first time that Sinas violated health protocol.
In May 2020, then NCRPO Chief Sinas caught the ire of the public after celebrating mañanita for his birthday even though there’s a strict protocol against large gatherings.
However, rather than getting rebuke, Sinas was off the hook and was even promoted as PNP chief by President Duterte.
Meanwhile, here are other reactions by Netizens to this latest Sinas controversy.
“Sinas is the Chief enforcer of safety protocols and yet he’s also the number one violator. It’s now his second violation. Exempted ba siya?” @datumx11
Sinas is the Chief enforcer of safety protocols and yet he’s also the number one violator.
It’s now his second violation. Exempted ba siya?
— YoursTruly (@datumx11) March 13, 2021
“Philippine pandemic protocols are punitive, not facilitative. For example, instead of encouraging/incentivising people to stay indoors, they focus on punishing those who go outdoors. They are also inconsistent. Only the poor and powerless are punished. It’s horribly wrong,” @JohnGuilaran
https://twitter.com/JohnGuilaran/status/1370275007616618497
“Debold Sinas is both symbol and substance of what’s wrong with the government’s pandemic response,” @gideonlasco
Debold Sinas is both symbol and substance of what's wrong with the government's pandemic response.
— Gideon Lasco (@gideonlasco) March 13, 2021
“What was PNP Chief Sinas doing moving around while waiting for his swab test results? Isn’t it SOP to quarantine yourself after a swab to ensure you don’t pass anything around in case you test positive? No wonder cases are rising. Itong simpleng bagay di natin magawa,” @citizenjaneph
What was PNP Chief Sinas doing moving around while waiting for his swab test results? Isn't it SOP to quarantine yourself after a swab to ensure you don't pass anything around in case you test positive?
No wonder cases are rising. Itong simpleng bagay di natin magawa.
— Citizen Jane (@citizenjaneph) March 12, 2021
“I think the main problem with the “compliance fatigue” explanation is that high profile violators like Pimentel and Sinas basically faced no consequences. Seeing that wore down people’s resolve faster,” @anthony_siy
I think the main problem with the "compliance fatigue" explanation is that high profile violators like Pimentel and Sinas basically faced no consequences. Seeing that wore down people's resolve faster https://t.co/ojONpetHYs
— bollard enjoyer, alipores #1 (@goodkidbikecity) March 12, 2021
