MANILA, Philippines — The country's chief of police Debold Sinas has tested positive for the COVID-19, adding to the nearly 12,000 within the organization that have contracted the deadly virus since the pandemic began last year. It is also unknown if Sinas is experiencing symptoms, but Usana, in a message to reporters said there is no cause for worry. Sinas, 55, figured in a quarantine-related controversy in May 2020, when, while chief of the Metro Manila police, a gathering was held to mark his birthday. Administrative and criminal charges were filed against him but President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly backed him and later promoted him to helm the PNP. Nearly a year since cops were tasked to carry out pandemic curbs along with the military, PNP's records show that 11,896 of their personnel have caught COVID-19 as of March 10.

Source: Philippine Star March 11, 2021 12:22 UTC