A TOTAL of 24 policemen across the country have tested positive for illegal drug use since January 2023, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday, September 4, 2023.
In a press conference, PNP Forensic Group Director Brigadier General Constancio Chinayog Jr. said out of the over 115,000 police personnel from all the PNP offices nationwide who underwent random drug tests, 24 cops yielded positive results both in the first screening and confirmatory test.
The list includes Colonel Cesar Gerente, the relieved chief of the Mandaluyong City Police Office. He has the highest rank among those who yielded positive results.
Chinayog said administrative charges were immediately filed against the 24 policemen and this may result in their dismissal from police service.
PNP Chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the conduct of random drug tests among police personnel is part of the organization’s internal cleansing.
“I would like to say this is a continuing activity, talagang tuloy-tuloy yan to make sure that our personnel are constantly checked and also to give warning to our personnel na to really avoid this kind of wrongdoing,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)