AN EMPLOYEE of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) has been arrested for allegedly supplying illegal drugs to a cadet, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday, January 7, 2021.

Diosdado Reyes, 25, a contractual stay-in mess hall keeper at the academy, was arrested on January 5 after Cadet 1st Class John David Macagba identified him as his source of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).

His source, Noel Miranda, 28, was also arrested in a follow-up operation in Silang, Cavite on the same day.

PNP Chief Debold Sinas ordered criminal and administrative cases filed against all personnel involved and the immediate pre-charge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings against Macagba.

Reyes was brought to the Silang Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

Recovered from him were used strips of aluminum foil with visible traces of white crystalline substance and other drug paraphernalia.

Sinas said Macagba had admitted to the PNPA leadership that he purchased P3,000 worth of shabu from Reyes.

Sinas ordered the conduct of unannounced drug tests on cadets, police officers and officials of the PNPA following the mauling of Cadet First Class Joab Mar Nacnas at the roof deck of a school building in Camp Castañeda in Silang, Cavite on New Year’s Eve.

Nacnas was mauled after he cautioned three of his classmates whom he found drinking alcoholic beverages.

PNP Crime Laboratory Director Steve Ludan said only Macagba tested positive out of the 260 graduating cadets who were tested.

Two other graduating cadets, Nacnas and his buddy, are still in the hospital and have not been tested.

Zepther Samonte, a contractual band member, was also found positive for drug use.

Sinas said the PNP Crime laboratory has administered drug testing on 1,065 personnel of the PNP Academy as of Thursday.

They include 817 cadets, 44 police commissioned officers, 44 police non-commissioned officers, 12 non-uniformed personnel and 148 job order employees and service providers. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)