Despite the controversy that hounded him earlier this year, Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas should be able to get the job done as new chief of the Philippine National Police, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Monday.

Lacson, who served as PNP chief from 1999 to 2001, said Sinas – who served as Metro Manila police chief – 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.

Earlier Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Sinas to head the PNP, succeeding Camilo Cascolan effective Tuesday, Nov. 10.