Major General Debold Sinas on Tuesday took over leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) with the theme song of Japanese anime Voltes V as his backdrop music.
Sinas is the first to be appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to the top PNP post outside of the Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class of 1986. Sinas belongs to the PMA Hinirang Class of 1987.
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He succeeded Police Gen. Camilo Cascolan who led the PNP for a little over a month.
In his first speech as chief of the 200,000-strong police force, Sinas reminded his men to "walk the talk."
"Lagi natin tandaan ang ating sinumpaang tungkulin bilang tagapagpatupad ng batas," Sinas said.
"Simple lang po ang gusto ko bilang ama ng ating organisasyon. We should walk the talk in PNP. Magtrabaho tayo ayon sa ating mandato," he said.
Sinas made the remark after he drew flak earlier this year for violating COVID-19 protocols when he had a birthday breakfast celebration or mañanita while most of the Philippines was under strict lockdown.
The celebration drew public outrage.
Sinas and Voltes V
During the change of command ceremony, Sinas displayed his penchant for Voltes V, asking police officers to "solidly volt in."
The 55-year-old PNP chief initially linked the hit Japanese anime to the police force when he assumed leadership of the Metro Manila Police in 2019.
It was reported that Sinas used Voltes V as a reminder that the police force needs the community and the government to "volt in" to keep peace and order.
During his mañanita, Sinas also received a Voltes V-themed cake.
Photos of the gathering initially made rounds on Facebook but these were deleted later by the Metro Manila Police. Charges were filed against Sinas and several other police officers over the gathering.
Sinas, according to Malacañang on Monday, was directed by the President to continue the war on drugs and to keep the "gains" in terms of peace and order.
"I believe in God that He has a desire for me to serve and protect our people," Sinas said.
