Estomo, all NCRPO 3rd-level officers test negative for illegal drug use
ALL 3rd-level officers of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) led by Major General Jonnel C. Estomo have tested “negative” for substance abuse during a surprise drug test they took as they tendered their “courtesy resignation” last week to help the government’s massive internal cleansing program.
The NCRPO chief and 71 other 3rd-level officers, including members of his Command Group, the different Regional Directorial Staff, the five NCRPO District Directors and their directorial staff, and chiefs of police submitted their urine specimens to the NCRPO Forensic Group last Friday.
The screening test yielded negative results for all the 72 urine samples taken during the surprise drug test, said the PNP Forensic Field Office based in Camp Bagong Diwa.
“From the beginning, I am with the PNP leadership in cleansing our ranks of drug protectors and scalawags. As I have been saying time and time again, anybody from the NCRPO who will be found positive for illegal drugs will be automatically deemed resigned from the service immediately,” Estomo said.
“Fortunately, none of the officers with me yielded positive results of the test. This is a positive starting indicator to this noble purpose of our SILG, Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr., and our (PNP chief), General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. in purging the organization.” he said.
Estomo said that this year, surprise drug testing will continue in different NCRPO offices as part of his no-nonsense effort to eliminate drug-using cops in Metro Manila.
“It is important to emphasize that those who tendered courtesy resignation are not drug users. This would reinforce the five-man assessment committee on their evaluation to be carried out. On the other hand, this may serve as a stern warning to all policemen in the region. No one can run or hide with the continuing conduct of random drug testing,” the Metro Manila police chief said.
Heeding the appeal of DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) Sec. Abalos and PNP chief Gen. Azurin, all 3rd-level officers in the NCRPO, have filed their courtesy resignation from the force and allowed the five-man committee to evaluate and assess them to clean their names.
“We acknowledge the courage and sincere compassion of our leaders and gentlemen in service to cleanse our ranks. At the same time, we trust and believe in the capacity of our committee to conduct fair and just evaluation,” Estomo said.
