PERSONNEL assigned at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) will be made to undergo random drug tests after one of its police corporals recently tested positive for illegal drug use.
NOCPPO deputy spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, said they have received additional drug testing kits.
Because of this, instead of the 25 percent target, NOCPPO is now capable of testing all its personnel.
Donasco said 25 percent of their personnel have already undergone drug tests, and the results should be released in a few days.
She further stated the police corporal, who had tested positive for drug use, had been given 15 days to challenge the results of the drug test.
If proven guilty, Donasco said the police officer will be given the maximum penalty, wherein he could be dismissed from the service.
Police Regional Office (PRO) Western Visayas Director Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda earlier ordered an investigation of the NOCPPO police corporal.
Miranda said he has released an order to disarm the cop while an investigation is carried out. He has informed the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) for the filing of appropriate charges against the cop.
"We will let the [PNP-IAS] handle the case para walang bias," Miranda said.
The PRO-Western Visayas director said they will conduct more drug tests among the police officers in the region. The regional police have already received 8,000 drug test kits that would be used for "targeted drug testing."
"Appropriate administrative and criminal charges will be filed against police officers who will test positive for illegal drug use," he added.