Drug busters drug tested

BEFORE going after policemen involved in illegal drug activities, all anti-narcotics operatives of the Philippine National Police underwent a surprise drug testing on Thursday.

As part of the “internal cleansing” within the police force, PNP Crime Laboratory personnel went to the office of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force to conduct a surprise drug testing on at least 100 anti-drugs operatives in Camp Crame, Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia Jr. said.

This was prompted by the rising number of policemen arrested for selling illegal drugs, particularly shabu (metamphetamine hydrochloride), and police officials protecting drug activities.

Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., the deputy PNP chief for operations, and the Intelligence Group directed AIDSOTF to identify, arrest and file charges immediately against police personnel linked to drug-related activities.

READ: PNP begins ‘internal cleansing’ to purge cops linked to drugs

AIDSOTF chief Senior Superintendent Benjamin Lusad ordered the drug test to show the public that the PNP is free of drugs.

If any of his men would test positive for drugs, Lusad said the personnel will be forced out of AIDSOTF. He also vowed to file administrative charges against the operatives, which may lead to their dismissal from police service.

As policy, officers assigned to anti-drug units are required to undergo drug testing twice in a year aside from the same test during their training and promotion.

Operatives positive for drug use, according to Merdegia, will be subjected to drug rehabilitation for six months and will be penalized for violating section 36 or Republic 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.