A CRIMINAL case will be filed Friday, May 15, against National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Debold Sinas and other senior police officials who attended his surprise birthday celebration, Malacañang said.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Philippine National Police (PNP) officials will also face administrative charges.
"Per my latest conversation with Philippine National Police Chief PGen. Archie Gamboa, a criminal case is now being readied to be filed tomorrow against NCRPO Chief Debold Sinas, along with other senior police officials who attended the gathering," Roque said.
"The PNP is also getting clearance from the Office of the President regarding the filing of administrative charges in violation of quarantine rules against the alleged violators," he added.
Roque explained that a clearance from the Office of the President is needed for the filing of administrative charges because Sinas is a third level officer and a presidential appointee.
The same applies to the senior police officials who are also presidential appointees, he said.
Gamboa on Thursday evening confirmed that the PNP Internal Affairs Service has found probable cause to file criminal and administrative charges against Sinas and the other officers.
Gamboa said Sinas and the others will be "made to answer for their individual culpability that will be determined by a swift and impartial investigation to satisfy the requirements of due process."
"I expect to receive a complete Investigation Report of the incident by tomorrow. Per initial assessment, there is probable cause for the filing of criminal and administrative charges in relation to quarantine health protocols. IAS personnel are now in NCRPO gathering affidavits as support documents to file these cases," he said in a statement.
"For the administrative cases, they will be transmitted for approval by the Office of the President... We shall refrain from issuing further statements in deference to the proceedings. Allow the investigation to take its due course and respect our prerogative to exercise command management of the PNP," he added.
IAS inspector General Alfegar Triambulo earlier said they will be "extra cautious" in the conduct of investigation to avoid the demoralization of the policemen involved in the celebration.
He pointed out that the policemen are frontliners in the government's battle with the novel coronavirus.
The NCRPO officials and personnel were criticized after photos of the surprise birthday celebration for Sinas held before dawn of May 8 were posted on the NCRPO Facebook page. These were later deleted.
The photos showed Sinas receiving roses and blowing birthday candles as his subordinates serenaded him in a mañanita to celebrate his birthday in violation of the prohibition against mass gatherings under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) rules.
PNP Chief Archie Gamboa had cleared Sinas, saying no violation was committed, but ordered an investigation nonetheless.
Sinas has apologized and said he did not intend to violate quarantine protocols. He said social distancing was observed during the brief gathering. (MVI/Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/VoxPop Philippines)