CCPO backs drug test for cops

CEBU, Philippines- The Cebu City Police Office is supporting the proposal to include police personnel assigned in the city in the annual random drug test.

Councilor Nestor Archival has proposed to amend City Ordinance 1829 that requires all city government employees to undergo a compulsory drug test to include barangay workers and policemen.

Senior Supt. Artemio Recabo, chief of the Mobile Patrol Group, who represented the CCPO during a public hearing, said that the city’s police force is supporting the proposal.

Recabo said that illegal drugs have been one of the problems in the community resulting in crime incidents. He added that it has also affected the image of the police because of information that some police personnel are either into illegal drugs or protecting drug pushers.

“It would be okay for us to conduct drug testing since there have been reports that police officers use illegal drugs,” he said.

Recabo, however, said that the drug testing procedure should be shouldered by the city government.

A police officer found positive of illegal drug use should be relieved from CCPO and face administrative investigation.

The Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention has also asked the City Council to include rehabilitation in the amendment of the ordinance. COSAP executive director Dr. Alice Utlang said that those who are tested positive of drugs should be rehabilitated.

In an interview, she said that the purpose of the drug testing should not only to determine who are drug users among government employees but also help those who have been using illegal drugs through rehabilitation.

 “Unsa man ang purpose sa drug test? Nakita namo nga kinahanglan naay rehabilitation tungod kay ang tawong nagumon sa paggamit sa drugas kinahanglan tambalan ug dili lang pasagdaan,” she said.  (FREEMAN)