PNP names drug-using cops; 21 Bilibid inmates test positive

As part of its house-cleaning and a shame campaign targeting policemen who are hooked on illegal drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified a dozen of its members, including a police officer confirmed to be positive for drug use.

PNP chief, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., in a press statement issued yesterday, identified thedrug-positive policemen as Chief Inspector Roberto Gabor, of the PNP-Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG); SPO1 Rolando Cabangunay, of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO); PO3s Manuel Javier and June Fabros, PO2 Enrique delos Santos, both assigned to the PNP-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF); PO3 Joselito Salvanera, assigned at the NCRPO Headquarters Support Group (NCRPO-HSG); PO2 Marvin Salazar, of the PNP Logistics Support Service; PO2 Cornelio dela Isla Jr., of the NCRPO’s District Support Unit (DSU); PO1s Pedro Avelino Jr., of the Eastern Police District, Station-1; Joselito Sablay, Western Police District Police, Station 7; Joseph Apuan, assigned to the PNP Traffic Management Group (PNP-TMG) and Jose dela Cruz, assigned to the Nueva Ecija PNP provincial police office.

The 12 policemen were among the initial batch of 1,181 policemen of 114,000 policemen required to undergo drug tests as required by Ebdane in consonance with the government’s all-out anti-drug campaign.

Meanwhile, 21 inmates at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City tested positive for illegal drug use, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Dionisio Santiago said yesterday.

"Among them are foreigners, locals, and personalities. One is a death row convict," Santiago told The STAR.

Santiago, however, declined to name the inmates.

At least 35 inmates volunteered to take the drug test, which was also their own initiative, late Monday afternoon, Santiago said.

Among them were convicted killers Ambet Antonio and Rolito Go.

Santiago said the results would still have to be confirmed at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory.

The NBP drug test was performed by its own medical personnel, Santiago said.

Santiago said those who tested positive were most likely drug users and not pushers.

Santiago also said more drug tests for both inmates and jail personnel should be conducted but cited budgetary constraints.

Santiago said he was now in a bind on how to prosecute those who tested positive, considering that the inmates are already serving the punishment of the crimes.

"What do you do to the one who is already on death row? What punishment could you still give him?" he noted.

Santiago added that the results of the drug testing confirms the existence of illegal drug use inside the national penitentiary.

"Nakakainis na. Ang tindi ng problema at pinagtatawanan lang tayo ng mga yan (This is really annoying. This is a terrible problem and they are just laughing at us)," Santiago said.

Santiago added BuCor officials had told him that in his three weeks as BuCor director, he has solved 25% of the NBP’s problems. – With Nikko Dizon