443 cops pass drug test

CEBU, Philippines — Not one of the 443 policemen who underwent random drug tests initiated by the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) tested positive for illegal drug use.

CPADAO chief Ivy Durano-Meca said the tests were made on police personnel from 11 police stations and one unit of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) from March 6 to 12.

At least 39 policemen of Tuburan Police Station in midwest Cebu, including non-uniform personnel, were screened for possible drug use last March 6. On the same day, 23 police officers and officials in Pinamungajan and 29 in Aloguinsan, both in southern Cebu, were also screened.

Meca said all of them tested negative.

On March 7, another batch of PNP personnel were also tested by CPADAO, 61 of them from Toledo City, 27 from Balamban Police Station, and 16 from the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit of CPPO. Again, the results were negative.

All 70 police officers in Talisay City and 40 in Minglanilla also tested negative during a test last March 8.

The following day, 50 police personnel in the City of Naga and 42 in Carcar City were also screened, all of whom passed the test.

The last batch of policemen who went through CPADAO’s drug test included 23 personnel from Ronda and another 23 from Alcantara. They tested negative as well.

Meca welcomed the negative results of the drug test, saying it gives a positive impact to the image of the PNP in the province, especially on the fight against illegal drugs.

“With our drug-free workplace program, especially on the PNP side nga they are the law enforcers, and to give a positive image to the police officers, dako kaayo nga impact nga as we do the mandatory random drug testing, none of our police personnel turned positive,” she said.

Meca is hopeful that the results will be maintained as they continue conducting mandatory random drug testing in government offices in the provinces, including police stations and the Department of Education.  (FREEMAN)