Dela Rosa: Redundant drug tests for cops, military economically unwise

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — It is “economically unwise” to require active members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military to take drug and psychological tests when applying for firearm licenses, according to Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

In an online press conference on Friday, dela Rosa voiced his support for exempting operating PNP and military personnel from these tests, saying it would just be a waste of money and resources.

READ: No more drug test, psycho exam for cops, troops buying own guns

He explained that uniformed personnel regularly undergo drug and mental tests as part of their service and that additional tests would make it redundant.

“Ang yayaman lang d’yan, ‘yung may-ari ng mga laboratories. Praktikal lang tayo. Praktikal lang tayo. Meron naman silang ganyan palagi. Hindi naman sila magiging sundalo, hindi naman sila magiging pulis kung wala silang–[kung] hindi sila nakapasa d’yan,” dela Rosa said.

(The ones who will get rich because of that are owners of laboratories. Let’s be practical. Let’s be practical. They always have that. They won’t become soldiers and policemen if they do not pass those tests.)

On Thursday, the PNP announced that its active members as well as the military will now be exempted from mandatory drug and psychological tests for firearm licenses, following a memorandum signed by PNP Chief Police Gen. Rommel Marbil on July 16. Arianne Denisse Cagsawa, INQUIRER.net intern