4 Army soldiers test positive for drugs

By: Frances Mangosing - 8 years ago

Four enlisted personnel assigned at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio will soon be discharged from service after testing positive in confirmatory drug tests, the Philippine Army said on Wednesday.

“Out of 13, apat yung nag positive sa confirmatory (four tested positive in confirmatory drug tests). All enlisted personnel,” Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said.

Last month, the Philippine Army headquarters conducted a surprise mandatory drug test and 13 out of 2,500 soldiers were initially tested positive for drug use. They were subjected to confirmatory tests.

“Pina-process yung kanilang discharge kasama sa proseso yun eh….Yung investigation wala na. Based sa rules, pag confirmed ipa-process ang discharge order (Their discharge order is being processed. There would be no investigation. Based on the rules, after testing positive, the discharge order would be processed),” Hao said.

The soldiers will be discharged dishonorably and will be stripped of their benefits, he added.

He said the nine others were already cleared of drug use—three were officers and six enlisted personnel.

“Ni-release na lahat yun. Binalik na sa respective units (Everything was released and returned to their respective units),” Hao said.

The four soldiers who tested positive for drugs are currently under the custody of the intelligence group.

“Hinahanapan pa nila ng connection, tuloy-tuloy pa to (They are looking for connection, this will continue),” Hao said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has been relentlessly campaigning against illegal drugs and state security forces nationwide have conducted their own drug testing.

“Army Commanding General Lt. General Eduardo Ano said we will get rid of all drug users in the organization. They have no place in the organization. We will continue our efforts. This is a priority sa program natin (in our program),” Hao said.

“We want to send the message that we are serious about getting rid of them,” he added. RAM