9 soldiers in Central Mindanao face drug use probe

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines—Nine soldiers assigned to various units in Central Mindanao have been placed under restriction and face an investigation after they tested positive for illegal drug use.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao, said the nine were among soldiers subjected to random drug testing ordered by division commander Major General Romeo Gapuz late last month.

Hermoso did not identify the soldiers but said the appropriate sanctions will be meted out to them if warranted by the investigation.

He said more random drug testing of soldiers would be carried out in the coming days.

“We are alarmed with early reports that hundreds of our soldiers are allegedly using illegal drugs. That’s the reason why we conducted random drug testing and we found out that there are indeed nine of them,” Hermoso told reporters.

Police said the random drug testing of soldiers was a welcome development and would boost the anti-drugs campaign.

Aside from using drugs, some soldiers were actually members of drug syndicates, police said.

A police officer said soldiers had been apprehended in past buy-bust operations and suggested that drug testing be made mandatory for all members of the military.

Hermoso admitted that one soldier of the 6th Infantry Division was killed during a drug buy-bust operation in North Cotabato last Jan. 13.