A TOTAL of 76 personnel and jail wardens from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Eastern Visayas have tested negative for illegal drugs in a surprise drug test conducted Wednesday, April 10.

The drug test took place before the first quarter management conference of the BJMP regional office under Jail Chief Superintendent Edwin Riel, the regional director.

Riel spearheaded the activity by ordering the regional command group, followed by the jail wardens and office personnel to submit urine samples to the BJMP Health Service Division led Jail Senior Inspector Tadeo San Gabriel.

“The higher office and authorities of the jail bureau shall be an image of moral ascendancy to various programs and policies implemented to lower units,” said Riel.

The 76 personnel who all tested negative were composed of 52 BJMP-Eastern Visayas personnel and 24 jail wardens.

“This confirms the jail bureau's commitment in ensuring a drug-free workplace and its fight against illegal drugs under new authority,” Riel added. (SunStar Philippines)