Mandaue cops undergo surprise drug testing

CEBU, Philippines - What was thought to be a command conference yesterday afternoon turned out to be actually a surprise drug test for the personnel of the Mandaue City Police Office.

As of this writing, no one tested positive so far among the 60 police officials and officers based on initial results, according to Superintendent Josefino Ligan of the City Intelligence Branch.

However, the final results will be revealed once the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory officials are done examining the specimens. The test was conducted around 4 p.m. yesterday.

Ligan said the police personnel had no idea there would be drug test as they were called for a supposed command conference at the MCPO headquarters.

He added that the drug testing is under a program seeks to free the police force of workers who may be using or trading illegal drugs as he said this could give the PNP a “bad image.”

Even MCPO Director Senior Superintendents Mariano Natu-el Jr. submitted himself for the drug test to prove that his office is serious in its campaign against the social menace.

In an interview, Natu-el said the test was also compliant with the mandate of Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, who is the director of Police Regional Office-7.

If a police official or officer tests positive, he or she runs the risk of being disarmed, subjected to a pre-charge investigation, or worst, discharged from service, said Natu-el. (FREEMAN)