Cops who uprooted marijuana exempt from drug test

CEBU, Philippines —  The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 has decided to spare the troops who operated in the uprooting of marijuana plants on a mountain in Balamban, Cebu last Friday in the upcoming random drug tests.

They will not be subjected to the test for at least a month.

Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, the newly-installed regional director, told reporters in an ambush interview yesterday that the troop that scoured the mountains had inhaled smoke during the disposal of the marijuana plants.

Persons who have inhaled marijuana would turn positive for illegal drug abuse during a test.

However, effects will wane, sooner than those who constantly use marijuana.

"Katong nag-uproot, syempre kung nakaamoy mag-positve sa drug test.  Pero, ang marijuana if dili ka pirmi mogamit, dili mag-stay sa system.  Naa procedure ana, they will be exempted from the drug test as of now, mga one month," he said.

Sinas added that it is his primary goal in every meeting, to conduct a surprise drug test. So far since he was seated as a director on June 4,   he had ordered over 400 police personnel to undergo a drug test.

The 360 police personnel who had undergone the drug testing has tested negative.

The 40 personnel from the Regional Personnel Human Resource and Doctrine Development of the regional headquarters just recently underwent the test.

Results are yet to be released.

Sinas said that surprise drug tests are his way of showing the public that policemen are leading by example.

“Padayon lang ang drug test.  Every meeting drug test para makita sa katawhan nga ang police nag follow gyud sa balaod.  This preventive aron ang tawo dili matintal nga mag-shabu,” he said.

In fact, the police force bought 3,000 drug testing kits to ensure all personnel will be covered in the activity.

If anyone would test positive, their service firearms will be recalled and they will be subjected to a summary dismissal proceedings.

He said that he is just getting started, as he plans to roll out additional policies in as soon as possible.

One of which includes the enforcement of an attendance policy within the regional headquarters.

He intends to install a biometrics machine that will record fingerprint compliance of all police personnel assigned in the administrative works and those who are office-based employees.

He added that the rule will also clear out “perennial doubts” that police are slackers. The system’s budget has been approved by Camp Crame.  The biometrics facility is expected to be installed in the two weeks.

“Just like any government office, a police, being a government worker, should follow office hours.  Naa na perennial question if mosunod ba oras ang police? Mao na amo i-adopt sa buntag from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.  Kung dili nakapunch-in absent na,” he said.

He said that if an officer has been tardy for five times, he will receive appropriate sanction. Penalties will also rise based on the regularities of his attendance record.

Moreover, Sinas will also enforce that the headquarters become a smoke-free zone.

He said that he is still consulting the Department of Health on this. The guidelines and sanctions for both rules will be presented as well. — GAN (FREEMAN)