Test for drugs, 2 lawmen dared

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Mindanao has dared the two rookie policemen involved in a sex scandal in nearby General Santos City to undergo drug tests to dispute rumors that they were using illegal drugs.

In a radio interview, PDEA-Central Mindanao director Rene Orbe challenged P01s Paul Untal and John Ripdos to subject themselves to drug tests to dispel speculations that they were under the influence of drugs when they allegedly sexually abused a 22-year-old female police applicant inside the regional police director’s compound at Camp Fermin Lira in General Santos City on the night of May 20.

Untal and Ripdos, both assigned to the Regional Mobile Group and detailed as security escorts of former Central Mindanao regional director Chief Superintendent Fidel Cimatu, were earlier charged with rape and acts of lasciviousness, respectively, by the police applicant.

Cimatu was relieved from his post last Wednesday and replaced by Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna.

An administrative probe team sent by Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa to investigate the alleged rape has cleared Cimatu of any liability over the sex scandal.

The alleged victim, however, later dropped the charges against the two rookie lawmen. – Ramil Bajo and John Paul Jubelag