2 rookie cops test positive for drugs

MANILA, Philippines — Two rookie police officers are facing dismissal after testing positive for illegal drug use, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas identified the officers as Patrolmen Reyland Intal of the Olongapo City Mobile Force Company and Benhur Ismael of the 2nd Sulu Provincial Mobile Force Company.

The officers have been disarmed and placed under restrictive custody by their superiors pending investigation of their cases.

Intal tested positive for marijuana during a random drug test conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory on at least 397 personnel of the Olongapo City police on Friday.

The test was conducted following the arrest of four city police officers during an anti-drug raid in Subic.

Ismael tested positive for shabu use on Thursday.

“If left undetected, these two rookie officers will continue with their drug use and perhaps influence others. They will have to go because there is no place for addicts in the PNP,” Sinas said in a statement yesterday.