NCR police chief orders random drug test for metro cops

National Capital Region Police Office head, Director Guillermo Eleazar (PNA Photo)

MANILA — National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head, Director Guillermo Eleazar, on Thursday ordered all policemen in the metropolis to be subjected to random drug testing as part of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) effort to weed out drug users in its 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).

Eleazar gave the directive to the district directors after a rookie policeman was caught sniffing cocaine inside an upscale Taguig City club. The cop will face dismissal proceedings soon.

“I’m calling all district directors to conduct random drug test once again,” Eleazar said, noting that the PNP is serious in its internal cleansing program and continuously conducts intelligence operations to weed out rogue police personnel from the force.

PO1 Redentor Bautista, 34, assigned at MPD Police Station 1, was arrested on Wednesday night for sniffing cocaine inside the Island Palace Club at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City.

Eleazar confronted and scolded Bautista at the Taguig City Police Station, where the police officer is detained.

“Anong klaseng pulis ka, nasa isang club nag-cocaine? Bakit nandun ka? Absent ka, sa anti-crime ka, hindi mo ba alam full alert tayo? Walakang karapatan mag-stay sa pulis. Mag resign ka na (What kind of police officer are you, sniffing cocaine inside a club? Why were you there? You’re absent, you’re in anti-crime.

Don’t you know we’re on full alert? You don’t have the right to stay in the police force. You should resign),” Eleazar told Bautista.

The NCRPO chief vowed the dismissal of erring policemen after undergoing due process.

“No sacred cows for people who are using drugs and to those who are selling, especially that they are uniformed personnel,” he said.