After mañanita scandal: PNP’s evaluation based on “overall, long-term” performance – official

June 14, 2020

Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday clarified that while public perception is also being considered in their performance, law enforcers are still being evaluated based on their “overall and long-term” performance.

Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, made the statement after a news report quoted him saying that the mañanita of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Debold Sinas has affected the police performance as well as the public’s perception towards the organization.

“I wish to make a clarification on the PDI (Philippine Daily Inquirer) news report entitled: 'Banac says Sinas’ mañanita affects public view of PNP, police performance' on June 12, 2020. I may have been misinterpreted but it was not my intention to put PMGen Debold Sinas in bad light,” Banac said.

“I clearly emphasized that we respect the opinion of the public and since we have a mandate to perform, we need to go on and appeal to the public for cooperation,” he added.

Banac said the issue affects public perception especially because of the reach of social media.

He added perception is a barometer of the public’s reaction to a particular issue.

“However, let us not forget that as law enforcers and public servants, we will ultimately be evaluated and judged according to our overall and long term performance,” he said.

“What is important is consistent and dependable performance. This is exactly what PMGen Debold Sinas brings to the table: a consistent and dependable performance amid the fight against COVID-19,” Banac said.

After President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his trust and confidence to Sinas, Banac said the incident is now a non-issue.

Sinas earned the ire of the netizens after photos of his mañanita last May 18 was posted on NCRPO’s official Facebook account and cops were seen violating the health protocols such as physical distancing.

While the PNP and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) does not see any wrongdoing on the part of NCRPO, the PNP-Internal Affairs Service still filed a complaint against Sinas and 18 other cops due to the said incident. Ella Dionisio/DMS