PRO-7 mass wedding: Sinas says cops with strong family foundation unlikely to do illegal activities

A priest celebrates a mass wedding for 16 PNP couples at the PRO-7 headquarters during its founding anniversary on Monday, February 11, 2019. CDN Digital photo | Tonee Despojo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Policemen loyal to their families are usually also loyal to their jobs.

Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said that if policemen have close ties with their families, they will unlikely be involved in illegal activities such as ‘hulidap,’ or coddling drug personalities.

On Monday, February 11, 2019, PRO-7 sponsored for the mass church wedding for 16 policemen from the different units of the Philippine National Police in the region.

“Kasagaran sa among gi-inventory, kanang walay strong family ties nga ang mga lalaki naay kabit, naay bisyo, walay hatak ang pamilya. Mao na among  gi-encourage nga at the end of the day, kaming mga police, mobalik gyod mi sa among pamilya. Tapos, maulaw mi nga magbuhat og dautan kay maulaw mi sa among pamilya ug sa among anak,” Sinas told reporters after the wedding ceremony held at the St. Ignatius Church inside Camp Sergio Osmeña here.

“This is one way of telling my men nga if they want to practice their faith, you have to practice it to the fullest. It’s good to be blessed and I think I have done my job to the people. Sixteen couples now are happily wed and blessed by God,” Sinas, who stood as one of the principal sponsors, said.

The most senior of the newly-wed couples is Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) City Director Senior Superintendent Julian Entoma Jr.

Entoma, 54 and his wife, Socorro, 52, have been wed through civil union for 22 years now.

Entoma said he wants himself be a good example to his men.

“We have been married civilly for 22 years pero sumala sa pagtulon-an sa Iglesia Catolica, modawat man gyod ta sa sakramento sa kaminyoon. Mensahe pod ni  nga at least ingon ani gyod ang pamilya sa police, kumpleto. Kung lain man nga relihiyon, adto pod sa ilang sakramento sa kaminyoon nga ilaha pod nga pagabuhaton,” Entoma said.

Entoma also urged his ranks to remain faithful to their wives and to their family as a way to show that they are also being good public servants.

Sinas said that the 16 couples will be given three-day, two-night breaks for their honeymoons, which were also shouldered by PRO-7. /bmjo