Ping’s ‘advice’ to new PNP chief: Prove your critics wrong

Prove your critics wrong.

This was the indirect “advice” that Senator and former Philippine National Police chief Panfilo Lacson gave Tuesday to new top cop Debold Sinas.

“20 years ago, on November 16, 1999, critics hit my appointment as CPNP. It was a tough challenge I swore to hurdle if only to prove my critics wrong. I hope CPNP Debold Sinas thinks exactly the same,” Lacson, who served as PNP chief from 1999 to 2001, said in a post on his Twitter account.

20 years ago, on November 16, 1999, critics hit my appointment as CPNP. It was a tough challenge I swore to hurdle if only to prove my critics wrong. I hope CPNP Debold Sinas thinks exactly the same.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) November 10, 2020

At the time he was named PNP chief by then President Joseph Estrada, Lacson faced criticism from several groups.

But he instituted reforms in the PNP after formally assuming his post, including going after erring cops and instituting a 34-inch waistline rule to ensure fitness.

He also had policemen using recovered stolen vehicles return them immediately – resulting in Camp Crame being turned into a huge parking lot as policemen complied with Lacson’s order.

Lacson also instituted the 85-15 rule to make sure 85 percent of personnel are in the field and only 15 percent are in their offices, to ensure police visibility.

These reforms earned the PNP and Lacson high approval ratings from the public.

On Monday, Malacanang announced President Rodrigo Duterte’s choice of Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas as PNP chief, replacing Camilo Cascolan.

Lacson said Sinas, despite the controversy that hounded him earlier this year, should be able to get the job done, adding he is a “good choice” for the top PNP post.

“Barring any controversy that Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas got entangled with in the past, he is a good choice for the top Philippine National Police post,” Lacson said in a statement.

“I’ve known him as a performer, always mission-oriented and undoubtedly will lead the police institution the way it should be led,” he added.

But Lacson also said Sinas should have learned by now the “hard lesson” brought about by a controversy last May where he did not follow social distancing protocols during a mañanita for his birthday.

“(T)he birthday mañanita event was a hard lesson that I hope he has learned from, and which he will surely remember whenever he will be confronted in making decisions affecting the PNP as well as his personal reputation,” he said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)