150 Metro Manila cops face dismissal after failing drug test

NCRPO Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar

Over 150 Metro Manila policemen face dismissal from the service after recently testing positive for drugs, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Director Guillermo Eleazar, told the Inquirer on Wednesday.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier announced that 300 of its men were found positive for drug use.

Half of them, Eleazar was told, were from the NCRPO, although he had yet to be given a list of names.

“It isn’t surprising. There are are so many police in Metro Manila so by percentage, logically it would be higher,” he said. “Definitely, for these cops, dismissal is the only [punishment].”

He said the PNP would not have announced the number of errant policemen — most of whom were rookies — if confirmatory drug tests hadn’t already been conducted, thus ruling out possible errors.

Eleazar said he would look for a way to make it easier for police chiefs to conduct drug tests on subordinates who arouse suspicion.

Among those who should be tested, preferably  every two weeks, are members of Station Drug Enforcement Units, he said.

“If it’s positive, it won’t serve as a basis yet for a case, but they can [refer] them to the [PNP] Crime Laboratory for official screening,” he said. —Matthew Reysio-Cruz