ANOTHER five police non-commissioned officers in the region are facing dismissal from service for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs, a top official of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao said.

Superintendent Surki Sereñas, PRO-Northern Mindanao spokesperson, said the five policemen tested positive in random drug tests conducted at the initiative of PRO-Northern Mindanao.

Sereñas declined to name the five policemen but said three of the policemen are assigned in Misamis Occidental, and one each in Iligan City and the Regional Public Safety Batallion.

"They didn't heed the warning and continued with their vices. They are facing the consequences now," Sereñas said.

But Sereñas emphasized that due process will be applied and the concerned policemen will be given opportunities to defend themselves in the summary proceedings.

Sereñas said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has reinvigorated its efforts to clean house through the "Oplan linis-bahay".

"It is part of the internal cleansing relative to the PNP's intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign," Sereñas said.

Some 30 policemen in the region have already been sacked for illegal drug use and for their supposed links to the illegal drugs trade.

Sereñas said the Northern Mindanao police have been constantly conducting random drug tests across the region.

"Mga 65 percent na ta in the entire country to have conducted the drug test," Sereñas said. (Alwen Saliring)