CEBU CITY — The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) has conducted another surprise drug test among nearly 100 personnel of the Provincial Intelligence Branch, Drug Enforcement Unit, and Supplies Office.
The personnel were subjected to random drug testing conducted by the Regional Crime Laboratory Office in Central Visayas on Thursday.
Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Manuel Abrugena, in an interview said, only two officers were unable to undergo the drug test as they were attending a court hearing.
Abrugena said the surprise drug testing is part of their intensified campaign against illegal drugs and the internal cleansing program of the Philippine National Police.
Results of the drug test will be submitted to the Provincial Internal Affairs Service and positive results will be forwarded to the Police Regional Office for dismissal proceedings.
Last week, two CPPO personnel were found positive during the confirmatory test for drug use.
Abrugena said they have a rehabilitation program for policemen who tested positive.
However, he added that these police officers would still be dismiss from the service after completing the rehabilitation program.
Meanwhile, fully-grown marijuana plants worth PHP1.5 million were uprooted Wednesday afternoon by the CPPO in a mountain barangay in Balamban, Cebu.
Abrugena said some of the more than 3,800 uprooted marijuana plants had to be burned on site as it was difficult to transport all of these to the Regional Crime Laboratory Office from the mountains.
The operation was jointly conducted by the CPPO led by Senior Insp. Alejandro Batobalonos and the Balamban Police, headed by station chief Senior Insp. Deni Mari Pedrozo. (PNA)
