Policeman may have cheated drug test

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office-7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr. said a policeman who initially tested positive for drugs then negative during confirmatory testing may have cheated on the second test.

Garbo said they suspect the concerned policeman may have switched his urine sample for the confirmatory test with an older urine sample.

Eight policemen were found positive of drug use during a surprise drug test last May 2, confirmatory testing was conducted on all of them and only one yielded a negative result.

Garbo has ordered the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division-7 to deepen their investigation, stressing that that truth should be uncovered.

He said they will go after policemen for dishonesty, a ground for dismissal from the force. 

RIDMD-7 said they have subjected the eight to pre-charge proceedings before PRO-7.

Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, director of CCPO, said the eight policemen are still reporting to him at Camp Sotero Cabahug after he ordered for their relief immediately after the initial drug testing.

“Wala pa’y order transfer from PRO-7. The orders are under the authority of the regional office,” he said.

Around 30 policemen from CCPO were subjected to the surprise drug test by the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Team last month. They were told to report to the headquarters for a seminar, but were instead subjected to the test.

PRO-7 is currently investigating where and how the supposed switch occurred during the confirmatory testing.

Screening standards require an individual to collect his or her own urine specimen with privacy, unless for any possibility that a person may intentionally alter or substitute the specimen.

A collector is tasked to ensure that collected specimens were acquired through the required process.(FREEMAN)