THE Department of Justice (DOJ) said it will continue its preliminary investigation into Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas and several other policemen who allegedly violated quarantine rules during his 55th birthday celebration.
This was the assurance made by Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra despite President Duterte’s pronouncement that he is ready to absolve Sinas if it would be established that he had violated any law.
Guevarra said the prosecutors would have to complete the preliminary investigation process; until then there is no ground for the President to exercise his right to grant executive clemency.
“The DOJ/prosecutor has to complete the process of preliminary investigation; executive clemency may come only after a finding of guilt,” Guevarra said. “If there’s no finding of guilt, there’s no room for the application of executive clemency.”
The Justice Secretary also expressed the belief that Duterte’s saying he would absolve Sinas “if he has” committed any offense only indicates the President is willing to wait for a finding of fault or guilt after a proper proceeding, whether administrative or criminal.“The President is very much aware that a case is still pending and he is merely indicating his intent to act with liberality, in consideration of Sinas’s overall performance as a career police officer,” Guevarra said.
It can be recalled that the President earlier said with regard to Sinas: “If he has [committed] any offence, he is pardoned already. I do not see any wrongdoing with moral implications and malice. “
Sinas, along with 18 other officers, including five generals, have been charged before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office for violating City Ordinance 12, or the mandatory wearing of face masks in public and stringent physical distancing, and the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, or Republic Act 11332.
The case was filed after several police officials and officers held a “mañanita,” the traditional dawn serenade for a senior PNP official on his birthday, last May 8, without complying to existing health protocols.
Sinas and the other police officers were highly criticized for conducting the event without regard to health and safety protocols, which are being strictly implemented on ordinary people.
Thousands of people were even arrested and charged for violation of strict quarantine and health protocols.