26 of 27 Cebu City journalists test negative for drugs

Arnold Bustamante (right), dyHP reporter and defense press corp president in Cebu City, submits his urine sample during a voluntary drug test at the Police Regional Office-7 headquarters on July 18, 2016. Police Director Gen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and PRO-7 Director, Chief Supt. Noli Talino (2nd and 3rd from left respectively) were present at the event. (CDN FILE PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

CEBU CITY — Twenty-six of the 27 journalists who underwent a surprise drug test on Monday were found negative of illegal drugs.

One specimen submitted by a videographer was not tested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) because it lacked the required amount of urine sample.

The action of the members of the Defense PNP Press Corps (DEPP) in Cebu was lauded by Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who supervised the drug testing of journalists during his command visit at the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7).

Twenty seven journalists (not 28 as previously reported) volunteered to undergo the drug test. Three journalists declined.

After the successful conduct of the drug test last Monday, Elias Baquero, president of the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists (CFBJ), challenged other journalists to also undergo the same examination to prove that members of the media were not into illegal drugs.

“Members of the media must act as role model in society because it is considered the fourth estate, the last bastion of those who failed to get justice from government,” he said in a message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“If ever a member of the media will refuse a drug test even if they have time to do so, it will create doubts in the minds of the public. So they must undergo voluntary drug test,” he added.

If a member of CFBJ would be found positive of illegal drugs, Baquero said it would be up to his or her media outlet to act on it.

“But CFBJ will expel him or her from the group,” said Baquero, a veteran reporter of Sun.Star Cebu.

The CFBJ is the biggest legitimate media group in the southern Philippines with about 200 members composed of reporters, photographers, and videographers from 11 beat organizations.

Arnold Bustamante, president of journalists covering the police and defense beats, presented to the PRO-7 the idea of having journalists undergo drug tests but the procedure must be voluntary among reporters, photographers, and videographers.

DEPP members knew about the plan but they were not aware of the schedule.

They were only informed before the drug test shortly before the 8 a.m. flag rising ceremony, which was attended by Dela Rosa last Monday.

Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, deputy director for operations of PRO-7, said journalists should be praised for submitting themselves to  drug tests to prove they were one with the government in the campaign against illegal drugs.

“We’re very happy with the first batch of journalists who underwent drug tests last Monday. It’s an honor. They showed the public that they are not into illegal drugs. I hope this serves as an eye opener to other members of the media to also do likewise,” he said in an interview.

Lawas said Dela Rosa was surprised and very happy with what he witnessed and was even talking about it when they sent him off at the airport.

“We could not oblige journalists to undergo drug tests. But he (Dela Rosa) encouraged and challenged other media to do it,” he said.  SFM/rga

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