Secretary Michael Dino of the Office of the Presidential for the Visayas (left) gives Police General Debold Sinas, Philippine National Police chief, a fist bump during Sinas’ courtesy call to Dino today, November 20. Photo courtesy of OPAV FB page
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The highest-ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrived in Cebu earlier than his expected arrival on Saturday, November 21.
Police General Debold Sinas, PNP chief, who was supposedly to arrive on November 21, 2020, has made a courtesy call today, November 20, 2020, to Secretary Michael Dino of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.
According to the OPAV post in its Facebook page, Sinas’ visit to Cebu is his first out of town visit since he became the PNP chief.
“He made a courtesy call to Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd L. Dino prior to his other meetings in the Queen City of the South,” the OPAV post said.
The OPAV post also said that Dino praised Sinas for his promotion and performance as a police official.
Earlier, Police Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), confirmed in a press conference on Friday, November 20 that PNP chief, Police General Sinas, would visit Cebu on Saturday, November 21.
“We are blessed that the chief PNP chose Central Visayas, particularly Cebu, to celebrate a thanksgiving through a prayer and a visit to the troops,” said Ferro.
Read: Sinas promotion blow to discipline
Sinas was named as PNP chief last November 9. He replaced former Police General Camilo Cascolan whose retirement took effect the day after the Malacañang made the announcement.
Ferro also said the PNP chief would be expected to pay a visit to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
Sinas once served as the director of PRO-7, from 2018 until 2019 when he was reassigned to head police officers in the National Capital Region (NCR).
He made headlines in May this year after photos of his birthday gathering showed a number of police officers defying health protocols amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The incident resulted in the PNP filing criminal and administrative complaints against Sinas and 18 other police officers.
Read: Duterte on Sinas mañanita: Kung may kasalanan siya, pardon na siya
Duterte kept Sinas in his post despite receiving flak over the alleged violation of quarantine protocols. / with reports from INQUIRER.net
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