Three Pasig cops charged with drug use

Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela ordered yesterday the filing of criminal charges against three Pasig City policemen found positive for drug use.

Apart from administrative charges, suspects SPO4 Giovanni Agas, PO3 Gerardo Canoza and PO1 Loduvico Castro Jr. would be charged with drug use before the Pasig City prosecutor’s office.

"I would like to see them dismissed from the service in the next 45 days," Valenzuela told The Star.

Agas, Canoza and Castro were among the second batch of Pasig City policemen to undergo drug testing after a fellow police officer, PO1 Samuel Quiteves, of Police Community Precinct 6 and his two civilian companions, were caught sniffing shabu inside a police headquarters last month.

Valenzuela immediately ordered the relief of detachment commander SPO4 Rufino Dancel over the incident.

Six other members of the PCP6 were relieved after they underwent and failed the drug tests.

The three cops gave their urine samples to elements of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) during a surprise drug testing ordered by former Pasig City Mayor Soledad Eusebio at the city hall compound last June 28 and 29.

Valenzuela said majority of the 340 Pasig City policemen have subjected themselves to drug test.

The EPD director said the drug testing was a continuing process and would not only involve Pasig City policemen, but also those from the municipality of San Juan and the cities of Marikina and Mandaluyong. — Non Alquitran