Media personnel take drug test

CEBU, Philippines — Several media personnel underwent a drug test yesterday morning at the Cebu City Police Office to support the campaign of the Philippine National Police against illegal drugs.

CPPO director Police Colonel Gemma Cruz Vinluan expresses her gratitude to the media with the support shown for the drug test which was participated by at least 15 media personnel coming from different beats.

Majority of those who joined were the media personnel who were assigned to cover the PNP and military affairs or the Defense PNP Press Corps (DEPP). The test itself was initiated by DEPP president, Arnold Bustamante.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa suportang binibigay ‘nyo sa amin, ito ay nagpapatunay na kayo mismo ay umaayaw din sa illegal na droga,” Vinluan said in a press conference after the drug test was conducted.

“Actually natutuwa ako na ang partner namin sa media ay aktibo ring nakikilahok rin dun sa ‘internal cleansing’ so may internal cleansing din ang mga media personnel natin,” she added.

Bustamante said that the drug test he initiated was to show the sincerity of the media in supporting the PNP in their campaign against illegal drugs. He said it was also to show that media people are clean and don’t use illegal drugs.

“Kung ang PNP seryoso sa ilang internal cleansing mao usab ang PNP reporters nga mo-cover sa mga balita gikan sa kapulisan. Una kining higayon nga gihimo sa mga DEPP nga nagpa-drug test sa CCPO aron pagpakita nga limpyo ug wala mogamit sa bisan unsa nga matang sa illegal nga drugas,” Bustamante added.

Vinluan challenged other media practitioners, and also those outside the media circle assigned to cover PNP and military affairs, to undergo a drug test to show transparency in the fight against illegal drugs.

“Naghahanap tayo ng transparency at good governance, dapat mag-start talaga ito sa ating lahat,” she said.

The drug tests taken by the media personnel was held alongside the random drug test Vinluan conducted on PNP personnel.

“Sixty percent pa lang ang na drug test sa amin didto Cebu City police at tatapusin natin ito hanggang sa buong police natin dito sa Cebu City ay ma-drug test, even yung non-uniformed personnel,” Vinluan clarified.

Of the policemen already tested for drugs, three were found positive last month, they are now subject to dismissal proceedings.

Vinluan said she is determined to conduct more drug tests, not just with on PNP personnel but everyone serving the country. — BRP (FREEMAN)