AT LEAST 60 personnel of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) were told to report to their headquarters in Camp Sotero Cabahug on Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City on Tuesday morning, May 24, 2022, unaware that they were going to undergo a drug test at the PNP Regional Crime Laboratory.
The 60 policemen, however, have tested negative for illegal drug use.
Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy city director for administration of CCPO, said the 60 policemen have brought the total number of CCPO personnel tested to more than 600, which comprise more than half of the city's police force.
The CCPO has a total of 1,200 police personnel.
Parilla said the surprise drug test is part of the internal cleansing program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to get rid of policemen who are into drugs.
CCPO Chief Colonel Ernesto Salvador Tagle hoped that all its personnel would be subjected to a drug test before the year ends.
Those who will be found positive will undergo summary dismissal proceedings by the Regional Internal Affairs Service.
“Usa ni sa mga programa sa PNP nga ipa undergo gyud ug random drug test ang tanang personnel aron mahibaw-an kung wala bay tiggamit og drugs, but so far wala pay nag positive nila (This is one of the programs of the PNP to let all its personnel undergo a random drug test to determine who among them uses drugs, but so far nobody has been tested positive yet),” Parilla said.
In last year's surprise drug test of CCPO, Parilla said all police personnel who tested positive for use of illegal drugs were dimissed from service. (AYB, TPT)