CEBU CITY – Police Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas is leaving the Philippine National Police Regional Central Visayas “with mixed emotions.”
The 54-year-old Sinas is moving to the National Capital Region Police Office after serving as PRO 7 chief for one year and four months.
“I have mixed emotions. I have learned to love Cebu and Central Visayas in general. I have made a lot of friends here and established good relationship with the PRO 7 personnel. At the same time, I welcome the new challenge. Being the NCRPO chief is going to be a big challenge. For one, my deputies there are one-star generals. As regional director, my deputies are colonels only. It feels like, I am going to start from scratch,” Sinas said in a press briefing yesterday at PRO 7 headquarters here.
Effective today, Sinas is replacing his Philippine Military Academy Batch 1987 classmate Police Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who is now the fourth-highest ranking officer in the PNP after he was named as Chief of Directorial Staff.
With his transfer to NCRPO, Sinas will be promoted to a two-star general. The turnover ceremony at NCRPO is tentatively scheduled on Wednesday.
Police Col. Ildebrandi Usana, deputy regional director for administration of PRO 7, will serve as officer-in-charge of PRO 7 while Sinas’ replacement is yet to be named.
Sinas considers the massive campaign against illegal drugs that PRO 7 has undertaken under his watch as one of his biggest accomplishments.
From June 2018 to Oct. 9 this year, the PRO 7 has seized P1,285,952,964 worth of shabu and P58,246,713 worth of marijuana plants.
The PRO 7 also strengthened its internal cleansing under Sinas’ leadership. Since last year, eight erring policemen were dismissed while 95 percent of the PRO 7 personnel underwent drug tests.
“The percentage is the highest among all regional police offices in the country,” said Sinas.
Sinas said he will be bringing the “Voltes 5” concept to NCRPO. “The concept means ‘touch all.’ Everyone has to work for the good of the organization,” said Sinas.
Eleazar was known for visiting police offices during wee hours of the day. Sinas said he will do the same. (Calvin Cordova)