16 NCRPO cops, employee test positive for illegal drugs

FILE: Personnel of the Philippine National Police check the temperature of motorists and commuters along Batasan Road in Quezon City during Day 2 of the community quarantine implementation in Metro Manila on Monday (March 16, 2020). (PNA photo by Rico H. Borja)

MANILA – Sixteen cops assigned at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and an employee tested positive for illegal drug use, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said on Thursday.

He said the random drug testing has been done to weed out drug-using police officers within their ranks.

The five districts covered by the NCRPO are the Manila Police District (MPD), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Northern Police District (NPD), Southern Police District (SPD), and Eastern Police District (EPD).

The surprise random drug test has been an effective tool initiated by the NCRPO from Oct. 12, 2019 to Sept. 1, 2020. A regular updating of the internal cleansing records is also being done by the office.

A total of 20,231 personnel were already tested during the said period.

Of the 20,231 personnel who underwent the random drug testing are from Regional Headquarters with 2,130; NPD with 1,781; EPD has 2,516; MPD with 1,759; SPD has 3,451; Quezon City Police District QCPD with 3,267; Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) with 848; Regional Internal Affair Service (RIAS) with 93; Regional Finance Service Office 16 (RFSO16) has 20; Regional Support Units (RSUs) with 864; Special Action (SAF) has 117; Aviation Security Group (AVSEGROUP) with 319 and cops on Schooling with 3,066.

Sinas said appropriate charges were filed against the policemen and follow-up investigations are being done.

“The NCRPO unceasingly cleanses its ranks of those who taint its image.

We have successfully separated our colleagues who use illegal drugs from those who are dedicatedly performing their tasks. Rest assured that we will not stop in this quest,” he said.

Sinas ordered further investigation of personnel who were confirmed positive in using illegal drugs substances after the random drug test.

He also ordered the dismissal of the contractual employee who tested positive for illegal drug use and continuous monitoring of other personnel suspected of using illegal drugs.