DILG stops PNP chief’s ‘questionable’ promotions

DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary, Eduardo M. Año, has put a brake on the “questionable” promotions being planned by Philippine National Police (PNP) director general, Camilo Cascolan.

In particular, the highly-respected former Armed Forces chief of staff torpedoed the announcement of Cascolan last week that he wants National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, P/MGen. Debold Sinas, to be “promoted” to directorial staff position at Camp Crame.

“The guy deserves also an evaluation and of course a promotion too. He has done good things and that is all I can really say,” Cascolan told the ABS-CBN News Channel during an interview last September 16, 2020, referring to Sinas.

Promoting Sinas, who is still facing criminal and administrative charges for his scandalous birthday party last May 8, 2020, would also place him on track to succeed Cascolan who everyone expects to step down this coming November.

The next day, however, Sec. Año, in a media interview, said that under the ‘PNP Law of 1998’ (RA 8551), said that Cascolan’s plan is a big no-no, as the law prohibits promotion to any post of any police official with less than year stay in the police service. Sinas is set to retire on May 8, 2021, or some eight months from now.

The DILG chief said the only way Sinas can still be promoted is if Pres. Duterte appoints him as the new PNP chief.

“He (Sinas) can still vie to become Chief, PNP, but not to any 3-star position,” Sec. Año, said.

Aside from facing criminal and administrative charges resulting from his birthday celebration before the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS) and the local court in Taguig City, Sinas is also under fire from the National Press Club (NPC) for refusing to hand over for investigation two policemen being linked to the murder last May 8, 2020, of Dumaguete broadcaster, Rex Cornelio Pepino.

With Sinas likely to spend the rest of his days in the PNP as NCRPO director, the door to his office has also been effectively shut for Calabarzon police director, P/BGen. Vicente Danao.

Danao, sources said, had already “bid goodbye” to his staff at the PRO4-A regional police headquarters at Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna, on the expectation of his transfer to Bicutan, the regional headquarters of the NCRPO.