MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed criminal cases against Metro Manila police chief Major General Debold Sinas and 18 other cops for celebrating a birthday party and violating quarantine rules under a coronavirus lockdown.

The PNP filed the criminal case with the Taguig Prosecutor’s Office on Friday afternoon, May 15, accusing them of violating Taguig City Ordinance No. 12-2020, which requires the wearing of face masks and the enforcement of physical distancing.

They were also accused of violating Republic Act No. 1132, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

Because they were seen in the party, the following police officials – including top officials of the Metro Manila police command and the PNP’s own human rights chief – were also included as respondents in the complaint:

1. Brigadier General Nolasco Bathan – Deputy Chief for Administration
2. Brigadier General Florendo Quibuyen – Deputy Chief for Operations
3. Brigadier General Florencio Ortilla – Chief Regional Staff
4. Brigadier General Gerry Galvan – Chief, Regional Internal Affairs Service
5. Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana – Chief, Human Rights Affairs Office
6. Colonel Eliseo Tanding – Chief, Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division
7. Colonel Remus Medina – Chief, Regional Intelligence Division
8. Colonel Emmanuel Peralta – Chief, Southern Police District
9. Colonel Ferdinand Ortega – Chief, Valenzuela City Police
10. Colonel Manuel Abrugena
11. Colonel Tomas Frias
12. Colonel Rodel Pastor
13. Colonel Raul Tacaca
14. Lieutenant Colonel Orlando Carag, Jr
15. Major Epream Paguyod
16. Major Britz Sales
17. Corporal Abdumer Bakli
18. Corporal Bernie Lazaga

In a separate memorandum by the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to PNP chief General Archie Gamboa, IAS chief Alfegar Triambulo said Sinas’ birthday celebration constituted administrative offenses of “less grave neglect of duty” and “less grave misconduct.”

To recall, Sinas was surprised with a party by NCRPO cops on his 55th birthday on Friday, May 8, drawing public outrage. He apologized for the party but later still insisted there was “nothing wrong” with the celebration. – Rappler.com