Debold Sinas

{{Short description|Former Chief of the Philippine National Police}} {{Lead too short|date=September 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Philippine name|Menorias|Sinas}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Debold Sinas | birth_name = Debold Menorias Sinas | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|05|08}} | birth_place = Quezon City, Philippines | death_place = | placeofburial = | placeofburial_label = | image = | caption = Official Photo as Chief, PNP | office1 = Undersecretary of the <br>Office of the President of the Philippines | president1 = Rodrigo Duterte | term_start1 = September 11, 2021 | term_end1 = June 30, 2022 | office2 = Chief of the Philippine National Police | president2 = Rodrigo Duterte | term_start2 = November 10, 2020 | term_end2 = May 8, 2021 | predecessor2 = PGen. Camilo Cascolan | successor2 = PGen. Guillermo Eleazar {{Collapsed infobox section begin| Previous PNP positions}} | office3 = Regional Director of the National Capital Region Police Office | president3 = Rodrigo Duterte | term_start3 = October 16, 2019 | term_end3 = November 10, 2020 | predecessor3 = PMGen. Guillermo Eleazar | successor3 = PMGen. Vicente Danao | office4 = Regional Director of the PNP Police Regional Office 7 | president4 = Rodrigo Duterte | term_start4 = July 2018 | term_end4 = October 16, 2019 | predecessor4 = PCSupt. Robert G. Quenery | successor4 = PBGen. Valeriano T. De Leon {{Collapsed infobox section end}} | module = {{Infobox police officer | other_names = | child = yes | allegiance = {{flag|Philippines}} | service_years = 1987–2021 | service_label = Service | service = Philippine National Police | department_label = Divisions | department = Philippine National Police * National Capital Region Police Office * Police Regional Office 7 * PNP Crime Laboratory Group * Police Regional Office 12 | rank = {{nowrap|25px Police General}} | alma_mater = {{plainlist| * Philippine Military Academy * Philippine Christian University<ref name=manilabulletin/> }} | unit = }} }} '''Debold Menorias Sinas''' (born May 8, 1965) is a Filipino retired police general who served as Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from November 2020 to May 2021.<ref name=manilabulletin/> During his tenure, he oversaw the COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines. However, he was also accused of violating the COVID-19 lockdown rules himself.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 13, 2020 |title=Sinas says sorry for birthday party during ECQ |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/260768-sinas-apology-birthday-party-ecq/ |access-date=June 16, 2020 |work=Rappler |quote=NCRPO cops held a surprise birthday party for Sinas on May 8 to celebrate his 55th birthday. They gave a mañanita – an early morning serenade – for Sinas then they dines together without observing physical distancing, breaking quarantine protocols.}}</ref>

Sinas graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1987. He served as the police chief of Central Visayas and Metro Manila before becoming chief of the PNP. After his retirement, he was appointed as an undersecretary to President Rodrigo Duterte. Since July 2022, he is serving as Cebu City's peace and order adviser.

==Early life and education== Debold Menorias Sinas was born on May 8, 1965, in Quezon City, Philippines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=154. MAGSASAKA (CORTEZ FACTION) |url=https://comelec.gov.ph/php-tpls-attachments/2025NLE/COC_2025NLE/COC_Partylist162/154.%20MAGSASAKA%20(CORTEZ%20FACTION).pdf |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=Commission on Elections}}</ref> However he would spend most of his childhood in Butuan in Mindanao.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mga kamag-anak ni Sinas sa Butuan, ikinagalak ang kaniyang promotion |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/11/10/20/mga-kamag-anak-ni-sinas-sa-butuan-ikinagalak-ang-kaniyang-promotion |access-date=11 November 2024 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=10 November 2020 |language=fil}}</ref> At the encouragement of his father, he entered the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), and graduated from the institution in 1987 as part of the ''Hinirang'' class. (Each year since 1967, the PMA assigns the graduating batch a unique honorific as verbal representation of the collective aspirations of the class. In 1987, the class were called ''Hinirang'' - which means "chosen" or "appointed ones").<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/featured/pma-graduation-exercises/|title=The Philippine Military Academy Graduation Exercises|date=15 March 2015|publisher=Philippine Official Gazette}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bueno Mison|first=Siegfred |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/09/01/whats-in-a-name-3/|title=What's In A Name?|date=1 September 2016|publisher=Business Mirror}}</ref><ref name=sinasgetsbold>{{cite news |last=Bajenting |first=Johanna Marie |title=Sinas gets bold with work, life |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1767966 |access-date=May 24, 2020 |work=Sun Star Cebu |date=October 6, 2018}}</ref> Sinas told ''SunStar Cebu'' in an interview that he joined the academy due to pressure from his father – he was warned that if he did not get in, he would not be accepted back home.<ref name="Sinas gets bold with work, life">{{cite web|url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1767966|title=Sinas gets bold with work, life|date=6 October 2018|publisher=SunStar Cebu}}</ref>

==Career== Prior to serving as Central Visayas police chief, Sinas served in the Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12) as Deputy Regional Director for Administration and in Camp Crame as secretary to the Directorial Staff under the Office of the Chief Directorial Staff and later, director of the PNP Crime Laboratory.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tuyay|first=Francisco|date=December 20, 2016|title=9 PNP officials in new positions|work=Manila Standard|url=https://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/224642|access-date=August 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Avila|first=Mae Clydyl|date=June 12, 2018|title=Sinas intends to raise efficacy of PRO-7's crime laboratory|work=The Freeman|url=https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2018/06/12/1823938/sinas-intends-raise-efficacy-pro-7s-crime-laboratory|access-date=August 8, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Macasero|first=Ryan|date=October 16, 2019|title=Get to know Metro Manila's new police chief Debold Sinas|work=Rappler|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/242638-things-to-know-about-debold-sinas/|access-date=August 8, 2020}}</ref> He was promoted to Police Chief Superintendent in April 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|date=April 21, 2017|title=PNP Welcomes Newly Promoted Star-ranked Officers|work=Philippine National Police Official Website|url=https://pnp.gov.ph/index.php/news-and-information/883-pnp-welcomes-newly-promoted-star-ranked-officers-2|access-date=August 8, 2020|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808141808/https://pnp.gov.ph/index.php/news-and-information/883-pnp-welcomes-newly-promoted-star-ranked-officers-2|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Key Positions === *Deputy Director for Administration, Police Regional Office 12 *Secretary to the Directorial Staff, PNP NHQ *Director, PNP Crime Laboratory Group *Regional Director, Police Regional Office 7 *Regional Director, NCRPO *Chief, PNP

===Central Visayas chief=== Sinas was police chief of the Philippine National Police's Police Regional Office 7 (PRO-7), which had jurisdiction over Central Visayas, for one year and four months.<ref name=bidspro7>{{cite news |last1=Timtim |first1=Alven Marie |title=Sinas bids PRO-7 farewell; feels mixed emotions with new appointment |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/263492/sinas-bids-pro-7-farewell-feels-mixed-emotions-with-new-appointment |access-date=May 24, 2020 |work=Cebu Daily News |date=October 11, 2019}}</ref> He worked under the office from July 2018 to October 2019.<ref name=anyother>{{cite news |title='Just like any other birthdays,' says Cebu-based media group head on Sinas |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1275290/just-like-any-other-birthdays-says-cebu-based-media-group-head-on-sinas |access-date=May 24, 2020 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=May 14, 2020}}</ref> During his term at this post, Negros Oriental, a province under his jurisdiction, was the subject of intense scrutiny due to the 2017–19 Negros Island killings which led to Sinas appearing at an August 2019 Senate hearing to explain the increased number of killings in the province.<ref name=":0" /> The Senate investigation determined that the police and military carried out most of the killings as part of its counter-insurgency operations against the communist New People's Army, along with armed vigilante groups that targeted suspected communists and leftists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/11/12/new-philippine-police-chief-has-troubling-record|title=New Philippine Police Chief Has Troubling Record|date=12 November 2020|publisher=Human Rights Watch}}</ref>

===Metro Manila chief=== Sinas was reassigned to Metro Manila in October 2019. His appointment as chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) was announced on October 10, 2019.<ref name=bidspro7/> and formally assumed the position on October 16, vowing to tackle illegal drugs, bribery, and gambling in Metro Manila. He succeeded Guillermo Eleazar, who was appointed as chief of the PNP Directorial Staff.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marquez |first1=Consuelo |title=New NCRPO chief Sinas: No tolerance for cops in drugs, bribery, gambling |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1178141/new-ncrpo-chief-sinas-no-tolerance-for-cops-in-drugs-bribery-gambling |access-date=May 24, 2020 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=October 16, 2019}}</ref>

By November 2019, 143 police officers from Central Visayas were reassigned to Metro Manila police office. One of the transferred personnel was assigned as the office's intelligence officer, though Sinas did not enact other leadership changes at the time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sinas sees nothing wrong with transfer of 143 cops from Central Visayas to Metro Manila |url=https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/11/05/sinas-sees-nothing-wrong-with-transfer-of-143-cops-from-central-visayas-to-metro-manila/ |access-date=May 24, 2020 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=November 5, 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Sinas launched a biometrics system for the NCRPO on December 2, 2019, for accurate attendance monitoring of the police office's personnel.<ref>{{cite news |title=NCRPO implements biometrics to monitor cops' attendance |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089805 |access-date=May 24, 2020 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=January 1, 2020}}</ref>

=== Philippine National Police chief === {{Expand section|date=July 2022}} On November 9, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that Sinas would be the next chief of Philippine National Police after the retirement of PNP Chief Camilo Cascolan. Sinas' tenure began the following day.<ref name=manilabulletin>{{cite news |date=November 9, 2020 |title=Who is new PNP chief Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas? |url=https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/09/who-is-new-pnp-chief-police-major-gen-debold-sinas/ |access-date=November 9, 2020 |work=Manila Bulletin |author=Recuenco, Aaron}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Duterte appoints Sinas as next PNP Chief |url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/11/9/PNP-Chief-Debold-Sinas-Duterte-appointment.html |access-date=November 9, 2020 |work=CNN Philippines |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109042044/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/11/9/PNP-Chief-Debold-Sinas-Duterte-appointment.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On May 8, 2021, Sinas celebrated his 56th birthday – the mandatory retirement age of police officers in the Philippines. Sinas' 6-month watch as top cop was marred with controversies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mañanita cop Sinas bows out as PNP chief|url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/debold-sinas-officially-bows-down-pnp-chief-may-7-2021/|access-date=May 7, 2021 |work=Rappler}}</ref> He was succeeded by Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar as Philippine National Police chief.<ref>{{cite news |title=Duterte picks Eleazar as next PNP chief|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/05/05/21/guillermo-eleazar-next-pnp-chief-sinas|access-date=May 5, 2021 |work=ABS-CBN News}}</ref>

=== Post-police career === On September 11, 2021, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea announced that Sinas was appointed undersecretary of the Office of the President.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-PNP chief Sinas appointed as undersecretary of Duterte's office |url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/9/11/Debold-Sinas-Undersecretary-Office-of-the-President.html |access-date=4 October 2021 |work=CNN Philippines |date=September 11, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912003705/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/9/11/Debold-Sinas-Undersecretary-Office-of-the-President.html |archive-date=September 12, 2021}}</ref>

On July 4, 2022, Cebu City mayor Mike Rama appointed Sinas to the Cebu City Advisory Board. He is to specialize on peace and order concerns.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sabalo |first1=Wenilyn B. |title=Rama appoints Sinas as Cebu City's peace and order adviser |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/451166/rama-appoints-sinas-as-cebu-citys-peace-and-order-adviser |access-date=July 7, 2022 |work=CDN Digital (Cebu Daily News) |date=July 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707133918/https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/451166/rama-appoints-sinas-as-cebu-citys-peace-and-order-adviser |archive-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rosel |first1=Rhea Ruth |title=Ex-PNP chief Sinas back as adviser of Cebu City's Peace and Order Council |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/07/05/news/regions/ex-pnp-chief-sinas-back-as-adviser-of-cebu-citys-peace-and-order-council/1849790 |access-date=July 7, 2022 |work=The Manila Times |date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704193920/https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/07/05/news/regions/ex-pnp-chief-sinas-back-as-adviser-of-cebu-citys-peace-and-order-council/1849790 |archive-date=July 4, 2022}}</ref>

==Family and personal life== {{Expand section|date=October 2020}} Sinas' father was a military officer born in Butuan, in the Caraga region of Mindanao island. Sinas' father had died before he graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1987. He mentioned in an interview that he "pushed [himself] to really graduate [from the PMA] as a promise to [his] father".<ref name="Sinas gets bold with work, life"/> Sinas has two children.<ref name=sinasgetsbold/> He also mentioned in the same interview that his mother and widowed sister were living with his children.

===''Voltes V''=== Sinas' favorite show growing up was the Japanese anime television series, ''Voltes V''. The show's theme song, "''Voltes V no Uta''" ("The Song of Voltes V"), has become a trademark for Sinas. The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7 where Sinas worked during 2018 to 2019) would play the theme song during ceremonies in the headquarters and even during police operations.<ref name="Sinas gets bold with work, life"/> When asked why the anime show was his favorite, Sinas said that "it embodied teamwork". During his stint as National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director (2019–2020), Sinas once again used the concept of ''Voltes V'' in terms of the different stakeholders—such as the police, the community, and government— "volting in" to achieve one goal.<ref name="Philstar Life">{{cite web|url=https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/934233-newly-installed-pnp-chief-sinas-leads-voltes-v-workout?page=2|title=Newly installed PNP chief Sinas leads Voltes V workout|publisher=Philstar Life}}</ref>

On November 9, 2020, "NCRPO Fitness Team", a YouTube channel run by the National Capital Region Police office (NCRPO) where Sinas was stationed for almost a year in 2019–2020, uploaded a video featuring Sinas leading a four-minute workout routine to the ''Voltes V'' theme song.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ICbRpMNJd8&ab_channel=NCRPOFitnessTeam|title=NCRPO 4-Minute Fitness Habit - V1 Body Weight Exercise - Office Workout - Music Voltes V Theme|date=9 November 2020|publisher=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="Philstar Life"/>

== Controversies and criticism == === COVID-19 pandemic === ==== Mañanita celebration ==== Sinas oversaw police response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Metro Manila, one of the hardest hit regions of the pandemic. However, his stint as Metro Manila chief was marred by a controversy over the holding of a mañanita — an early morning birthday serenade — for his birthday on May 8, 2020, at Camp Bagong Diwa. A mañanita is a tradition in the Philippine police force where personnel greet their senior officers during the early morning for their birthdays. The gathering was perceived negatively by the public, with the leadership of the Philippine National Police filing charges against Sinas and 18 other officers for violation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, particularly on provisions concerning social distancing and mass gathering at the time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marquez |first1=Consuelo |title=PNP-IAS files criminal raps vs Sinas, 18 others over birthday 'mañanita' |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1275624/pnp-ias-files-criminal-raps-vs-sinas-18-others-over-birthday-mananita |access-date=June 7, 2020 |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=May 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531184903/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1275624/pnp-ias-files-criminal-raps-vs-sinas-18-others-over-birthday-mananita |archive-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref> Although Sinas keeps his post due to the "emergency situation" concerning the pandemic, the police agency was concerned that his programs related to COVID-19 response might be disrupted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Recuenco |first1=Aaron |title=Sinas stays as NCRPO amid public uproar, filing of charges over mañanita |url=https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/18/sinas-stays-as-ncrpo-amid-public-uproar-filing-of-charges-over-mananita/ |access-date=May 24, 2020 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=May 18, 2020 |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016185050/https://mb.com.ph/news/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name = "hard_to">{{cite news |last1=Movido |first1=Angel |title=Sinas 'hard to replace', will stay as Metro Manila top cop: PNP chief |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/05/18/20/sinas-hard-to-replace-will-stay-as-metro-manila-top-cop-pnp-chief |access-date=June 7, 2020 |agency=ABS-CBN News |date=May 18, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530083405/https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/18/20/sinas-hard-to-replace-will-stay-as-metro-manila-top-cop-pnp-chief |archive-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peralta-Malonzo |first1=Third Anne |title=Sinas 'hard to replace', retained as NCRPO chief despite charges |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1856863/Manila/Local-News/Sinas-hard-to-replace-retained-as-NCRPO-chief-despite-charges |access-date=June 7, 2020 |agency=SunStar Philippines |date=May 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605155655/https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1856863/Manila/Local-News/Sinas-hard-to-replace-retained-as-NCRPO-chief-despite-charges |archive-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Luna |first1=Franco |title='Hard to replace': Sinas to stay as NCRPO director, PNP chief says |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/05/18/2014830/hard-replace-sinas-stay-ncrpo-director-pnp-chief-says |access-date=June 8, 2020 |agency=The Philippine Star |date=May 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526005431/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/05/18/2014830/hard-replace-sinas-stay-ncrpo-director-pnp-chief-says |archive-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref> Sinas apologized for the event though he insisted that his office observed appropriate protocols.<ref name=anyother/> On May 20, President Rodrigo Duterte decided against dismissing Sinas or transferring him to another post, vouching for his character believing that he was not at fault for being "serenaded" during his birthday.<ref>{{cite news |title=Duterte keeps confidence in Sinas amid birthday party flak |url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/5/20/Duterte-keeps-confidence-in-Sinas-amid-birthday-party-flak.html |access-date=June 8, 2020 |agency=CNN Philippines |date=May 20, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606023502/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/5/20/Duterte-keeps-confidence-in-Sinas-amid-birthday-party-flak.html |archive-date=June 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Moya |first1=Jove |title=Duterte defends Sinas, retains him as NCRPO chief |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1857059/Manila/Local-News/Duterte-defends-Sinas-retains-him-as-NCRPO-chief |access-date=June 8, 2020 |agency=SunStar Philippines |date=May 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606031227/https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1857059/Manila/Local-News/Duterte-defends-Sinas-retains-him-as-NCRPO-chief |archive-date=June 6, 2020}}</ref>

====Bypassing of Oriental Mindoro health protocol==== Debold Sinas tested positive for COVID-19. The PNP made the announcement on March 11, 2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/pnp-chief-sinas-tests-positive-covid-19/|title=PNP chief Sinas tests positive for COVID-19|date=11 March 2021|publisher=Rappler}}</ref> on the day of his visit to Oriental Mindoro to attend a ceremonial COVID-19 vaccination for the local police force. A statement by the Oriental Mindoro provincial government said that Sinas did not go through the proper health screening since he entered Calapan via helicopter instead of entering the city through its seaport where passengers are screened for the disease.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/03/13/21/sinas-skipped-health-screening-in-or-mindoro-on-same-day-of-covid-19-announcement|title=Sinas skipped health screening in Or. Mindoro on same day of COVID-19 announcement|date=13 March 2021|publisher=ABS-CBN News}}</ref>

=== Harassment accusation === On July 18, 2020, Sinas and other armed NCRPO officials were accused of harassment by the Delos Santos family, with the incident being filmed by a CCTV camera and the footage going viral online. The NCRPO were allegedly trying to evict the Delos Santos family from the property to build a quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients. Sinas explained that the property is owned by the PNP and Executive Master Sergeant Arnel Delos Santos was only allowed to live there temporarily with an agreement to vacate the property after his retirement in November 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gonzales |first=Cathrine |title=NCRPO cops accused of harassing Taguig family; Sinas explains move |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1309067/ncrpo-cops-allegedly-harass-taguig-family-sinas-explains-move |access-date=July 21, 2020 |agency=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=July 19, 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Philippine drug war}}

{{Philippine National Police Chiefs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinas, Debold}} Category:1965 births Category:Filipino police chiefs Category:People from Butuan Category:Philippine Military Academy alumni Category:Living people Category:Duterte administration personnel Category:People of the Philippine drug war Category:Philippine Constabulary personnel Category:People from Quezon City