Policemen found using drugs to face dismissal

Policemen found positive of using illegal drugs will automatically face dismissal proceedings, Cebu City Police Office director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador warned.

The CCPO recently conducted a surprise drug test among its members, specifically those assigned to miscellaneous teams and special units, after the arrest of three policemen over a drug-related case. Two more CCPO members were charged for allegedly escorting a suspected bigtime drug pusher.

Comendador ordered at least 89 members of the miscellaneous teams to undergo a drug test after a meeting last Wednesday, but only 79 who were present have undergone. Yesterday, six more policemen presented themselves for the drug test.

Comendador made those latecomers explain the reason for their absence during the meeting before allowing them to take the drug test at their own expense. A drug test kit would cost P300.

Aside from the non-commissioned officers, members of the five special units were also made to take the drug test. A source said the Philippine National Police Regional Crime Laboratory would release the result in three to five days.

Comendador said those who fail to undergo the drug test would be subjected to an administrative investigation for neglect of duty, an offense punishable by 30 to 90 days suspension. They will also be transferred to beat patrol duties for easy supervision and monitoring.

Those found positive of taking illegal drugs will be immediately removed from his unit and will be assigned to what Comendador called a "reformatory" unit, the Beat Patrol.

"They will be relieved from their assigned units so that they could no longer join anti-illegal drugs operation and they would be put under investigation for conduct unbecoming an officer," Comendador said.

He stressed that those policemen found using drugs would be subjected to administrative investigation so they could be dismissed from service, saying that the move is part of the campaign to rid the CCPO of scalawags.

Few days ago, Comendador directed all police station chiefs to have their miscellaneous team members wear the proper uniforms while on duty.

This after he received several reports that some members of miscellaneous teams have been operating outside their jurisdiction to extort money from drug personalities. - Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM