116 of 75,964 cops flunk drug test

Policemen on the drug list of President Rodrigo Duterte got a verbal beating from Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa when they surrendered to their commander on Monday morning. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net

ONLY 116 of 75,964 policemen, or less than 1 percent of the total number, from different offices and units nationwide tested positive for illegal drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Thursday.

As of August 10, 75,964 police officers out of 160,000 members of the PNP have undergone random drug tests at different police offices across the country.

The 35 PNP members on the drug list of President Duterte, who surrendered to PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa, also underwent drug testing on the day they turned themselves in to the police.

At a press briefing in Camp Crame, PNP’s Directorate for Investigative and Detection Management (DIDM) executive officer Senior Supt. Fausto Manzanilla Jr. said all 116 policemen will be subjected to pre-charge evaluation and investigation.

Later, they will be recommended to face summary dismissal proceedings.

Manzanilla, however, said the drug-using cops will not be dismissed immediately but they will have to undergo “disciplinary procedures.”

This was contrary to the earlier pronouncement of the PNP chief who said last July that policemen who will test positive for drug use will be automatically dismissed from service.

Once they test positive in the confirmatory test, Dela Rosa said he will order their dismissal immediately as they have no place in the police organization.

Visibly upset, Dela Rosa said: “Nakakahiya, nakakagalit, nakakasuklam. Kayo ang tagapagpatupad ng batas, tapos kayo mismo nagba-violate, tapos kayo ang drug addict. Kayo dapat manghuhuli ng drug addict, hindi kayo dapat ang drug addict.”/rga/ac