ILOILO CITY – – Around 500 uniformed and non-uniformed personnel of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) on Monday underwent a surprise drug test.
The drug test is part of the Philippine National Police’s program on “internal cleansing”, assuring that no police officer in the region is linked to illegal drugs, PRO-6 spokersperson Police Supt. Joem Malong said.
“The result will come out either this Friday or next week,” she said in an interview.
The personnel gathered at the regular Monday flag-raising ceremony, followed by an awarding rites at the multipurpose hall.
Malong said the police officers were not allowed to leave the hall after the program without submitting themselves to the drug test, led by Senior Supt. Jesus Cambay Jr., Deputy Regional Director for Operations of PRO-6.
Other personnel who underwent the drug test came from the personnel department and intelligence division.
Each of them was required to give urine samples to the PRO-6 Crime Laboratory.
The police personnel are required to leave their identification cards to make sure that they undergo the drug examination.
Those who will be found positive will be subject of investigation and may face dismissal from service, Malong said.
Previously, PRO-6 held surprise drug tests among its personnel required during their recruitment and application for promotion.
Malong disclosed that two police officers were found positive of illegal use after the drug test held last June. They are now subjects of confirmatory tests. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
