PNP to TV stations, firms: Require workers to undergo drug testing

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. urged companies, including television networks, on Monday, October 3, 2022, to require their employees and talents to undergo drug testing.

In a press conference, Azurin said firms can help the government’s campaign against illegal drugs by including drug testing as a requirement for employment.

He said television networks, in particular, should require their employees, talents and artists to undergo drug testing considering that some of them were being idolized by the youth.

“So they should be drug-free role model. Kapag role model ka, dapat ‘yung ano mo dapat is impeccable dapat, ibig sabihin malinis ka. So I welcome na sana lahat ng artista natin would volunteer to be tested para nang sa ganun mapatunayan na marami or lahat sila ay napakagandang maging role model,” said Azurin.

“At the same time, hindi lang siguro doon sa mga artista... siguro lahat ho siguro ng mga ahensya or offices, if they can subject ‘yung kanilang mga employees to a drug test, napakaganda po,” he added.

Azurin made the statement following the arrest of actor Dominic Rocco along with several others in an anti-drug operation in Quezon City over the weekend.

Rocco is a son of veteran actor Bembol Roco and the twin brother of actor Felix Roco.

Confiscated from Rocco and his cohorts were P12,000 worth of shabu and P14,000 worth of marijuana leaves.

Azurin said the PNP is crafting new strategies to augment the earlier policies pertaining to the campaign against illegal drugs particularly in the demand and supply reduction.

He said this is one of the topics they discussed during his trip to Hawaii for the Philippine-United States Annual Mutual Defense and Security Engagement Boards last week.

“First is we informed ‘yung ating mga kaibigan sa Hawaii na we really need to have a good intel sharing specifically ‘yung about transnational crime kasi naging borderless na halos with the advent of technology. So wala na boundary actually. So there is a need na baguhin natin ‘yung stratehiya natin as far as ‘yung exchange of information is concerned,” said Azurin.

“Napag usapan din namin sa Hawaii is kailangan ay i-beef up natin ‘yung border security natin, ‘yung control natin para sa ganun mabawas

bawasan or mapigilan ‘yung pagpasok nung illegal contraband ditto, specifically ‘yung mga droga na dumarating dito sa atin,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)