Cops found positive for drug use to be relieved

Anti-drugs Task Force commander Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay vowed to go after policemen found positive for drug use as his deadline for the police force to undergo voluntary rehabilitation ends today.

As of last Friday, only one policeman has heeded Aglipay’s call to come forward and undergo voluntary rehabilitation.

Aglipay, who is also deputy chief for administration of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he will not hesitate firing cops found to have violated the anti-drugs law.

Under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, any officer or employee found positive for use of dangerous drugs shall be dealt with administratively. Such will be also be ground for suspension or termination.

Aglipay will lead today the mandatory drug testing of policemen at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame.

PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. disclosed that they have a list of drug users in the police force but they account for only about one percent of the entire police force.

Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco urged the national government to release the budget for the implementation of the new anti-drugs law.

"Where will we get the P5.1 million budget for drug testing of the 17,000-strong Metro Manila policemen?" Velasco asked.

But while he complained on the budgetary constraints, he said the NCRPO will focus on the clearing of drug-affected barangays in the metropolis.

Velasco set an example to all his district directors last week when he and four other Metro district directors proceeded to the PNP Crime Laboratory to submit themselves for drug testing. They all tested negative for drug use.

Efren Fernandez, a member of the Dangerous Drugs Board, has defended the credibility of the drug testing being conducted by the PNP and the Department of Health (DOH).

According to Fernandez, drug testing centers authorized by the DOH and the PNP have been duly evaluated based on high standards set by the health department.