The head of the Southern Police District (SPD) has ordered an investigation into reports that many of his men are illegal drug users.
“I have already alerted our intelligence unit to verify the information and then we will also subject our police officers to surprise random drug tests as part of the effort of the Philippine National Police to weed out drug users [from among] its ranks,” SPD director Chief Supt. Benito Estipona said in an interview yesterday.
At the same time, he called on his men to set a good example for the public by avoiding drugs.
Estipona also said that his office was reviewing all the records of personnel involved in the fight against illegal drugs and that he would immediately relieve police officers found to have dubious records and subject them to summary dismissal proceedings.
The SPD is composed of 3,060 policemen in charge of keeping peace in the cities of Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Taguig and the municipality of Pateros. Maricar B. Brizuela