Col. Cesar Gerente —PHOTO FROM MANDALUYONG CPS
The chief of the Mandaluyong City police station was relieved from his post after he tested positive for illegal drugs in a surprise drug test last week.
Col. Cesar Gerente yielded positive results during a random drug test with ranking officials of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Aug. 24, according to Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), which covers the cities of Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig and San Juan.
In a message to the Inquirer on Wednesday, Asueta said Gerente was transferred to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, while awaiting the result of a confirmatory test and subjected to administrative case investigation.
He did not answer if Gerente initially tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride, the active ingredient of shabu or crystal meth, or for THC (delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol) metabolites, the psychoactive component of cannabis or marijuana.
His service firearm was also confiscated and he was ordered to explain why his drug test came out positive for illegal drugs.
Honest, noble service
According to Asueta, Gerente was given 15 days to challenge the result of the drug test.
Col. Mary Grace Madayag replaced Gerente as Mandaluyong police chief in a turnover ceremony on Monday. Gerente was only assigned to head the Mandaluyong police in May.
On the same day, all 497 personnel of Mandaluyong police underwent a surprise drug test conducted by the EPD Forensic Group. All of which yielded negative for drugs.
On Aug. 24, NCRPO chief Brig. Gen. Melencio Nartatez Jr. led a random drug test of all NCRPO staff, including heads of the five police districts and station commanders in Metro Manila, after his command conference.
“I will not tolerate scalawags in NCRPO, especially those who are involved in illegal drug activities. I will make sure that you will have a place. The NCRPO is continuous in cleansing its ranks for an honest and noble service to the public,” Nartatez said on Aug. 24.
NCRPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Eunice Salas said that as part of internal cleansing the NCRPO conducted four random drug tests on its personnel this month. “Three personnel tested positive. All of their tests were already subjected to confirmatory tests by the Forensics Unit and still yielded positive results,” she said in a message to the Inquirer. She, however, did not identify the personnel, saying she was not authorized to disclose them.
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