Police charged after testing positive in random drug test

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch has found probable cause in filing an administrative case for grave misconduct against a police officer who was found positive of illegal drugs in a surprise drug test in Santa Fe Police Station.

Out of at least 20 policemen, PO1 Joecel Cabrera tested positive in a surprise drug test conducted by the Cebu Provincial Police Office last February.

The administrative case was already forwarded to the Police Regional Office-7 for a summary hearing.

The charge was also supported by the confirmatory test from the PNP Crime Laboratory-7 showing Cabrera positive of drugs.

One of the general qualifications for appointment into police service is that a person or a member of the PNP must have passed the psychiatric or psychological, drug and physical test to be administered by the PNP or any NAPOLCOM accredited hospitals.

Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac, CPPO director, said that only chosen police stations undergo a surprise drug test, depending on reports they receive.

“Dili man tanan police station kay 50 gud na kabuok unya sa kadaghan maglisod ta sa budget,” Gillamac admitted, adding that they are now eyeing two other police stations, which will be subjected for surprise drug test next month.

Gillamac added that they have been receiving reports of policemen reportedly using illegal drugs in Cebu province but they are yet to verify such reports until they have conducted random drug tests.

“Ang uban negative during verification others ato pang gitan-aw ang uban mao nang atong himuan og drug test kay lisod man pud og magpataka ta,” he said.

He also does not agree that the drug problem in the Cebu province is increasing based on their high number of arrests and drugs confiscated. Instead, these would indicate that they are conducting more operations and the effort exerted of the police to eradicate illegal drugs is intensified.

He added that their main focus is to reduce the supply and demand of drugs.

In fact, in the records of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, nine policemen were dismissed from the service last year for using illegal drugs.

Four policemen have pending summary hearings and four others are subjected for pre-charged evaluation for drug-related cases.  (FREEMAN)