PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. reiterated that drug-using police personnel have no place in the force as they will face summary dismissal proceedings once they test positive for any illegal substance.

The top cop added that surprise drug tests in the 228,000-strong organization will continue to ferret out PNP personnel who are using illegal drugs.

He also said that drug-using policemen will face dismissal from the service and all their government benefits will be forfeited apart from being barred from holding any public office in the future.

Past PNP chiefs earlier said there is a need to clothe all 17 Police Regional Office directors with the power to immediately fire policemen under their supervision.

During the Duterte administration, nearly 500 policemen tested positive for illegal drug use since 2016, the year when the former firebrand Commander-in-Chief ordered a war on drugs and went all-out in going after rogues in uniform, specifically the ‘Ninja Cops.’

PNP chiefs during the previous administration wanted all their Regional Directors to handle the cases of drug-positive cops in their areas instead of the PNP Internal Affairs Service.

Officials then also wanted all policemen who have been reported to be using shabu or marijuana to be immediately tested and dismissed as soon as possible by their respective regional directors in coordination with the Regional IAS.

Early last week, Mandaluyong City Police Station chief Colonel Cesar Gerente was relieved from his post, stripped of his service firearm and is now facing criminal and administrative charges after he tested positive for drugs in both initial screening and confirmatory tests.

Colonel Mary Grace Madayag was appointed as acting Mandaluyong City police chief vice Gerente, who became the highest police official to test positive for drugs.

Eastern Police District director Brig. Gen. Wilson P. Asueta said the official was transferred to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Section of the National Capital Region Police Office while the result of the confirmatory test on his urine specimen is still being awaited.

Two more NCRPO Police Non-Commissioned Officers whose names were initially withheld also tested positive in confirmatory tests and have also meted the same penalties imposed on Gerente, said PNP spokesperson, Colonel Jean Fajardo.

“The urine specimen submitted by subject personnel during the random drug test was the same specimen subjected to the confirmatory test, which yielded positive results also,” she said.

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Alfred P. Dalizon