Estomo: drug testing of MM cops to continue
NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Major General Jonnel C. Estomo, on Saturday declared that surprise random drug-testing of all Metro Manila (MM) police officers and men will continue in line with their effort to “cleanse” out their organization of personnel using an illegal substance.
“There will be a continuing drug test in NCRPO as we fully support the move of DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) Secretary Benjamin Abalos and PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to ferret out misfits and scalawags in the police force including those who are into illegal drug use,” said the Metro Manila police chief.
On Thursday, Estomo personally supervised the conduct of a drug test on mid-level officers of the Northern Police District (NPD) and operatives of the NCRPO Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG).
The official surprised the NPD leadership when he arrived in the middle of their weekly Station Oversight Committee Meeting in the guise of an inspection. However, he later announced that all officers present in the area will have to undergo drug testing.
He later proceeded to the NCRPO-RSOG headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City, where he likewise ordered all 32 officers and men to submit their urine specimens for a laboratory test to be conducted by the PNP Forensic Group.
“Hinihikayat natin ang mga iba pang commanders na magsagawa ng drug test sa kanilang mga nasasakupan, gaya ng inisyatibo ng District Director ng Southern Police District (SPD) para masigurado na lahat ay masusuri. Ang susunod nating gagawin ay lahat ng mga pulis sa bawat istasyon, presinto at maging sa headquarters ay maisalang din natin sa random drug test na ito,” the official said.
Estomo said that anybody who tests “positive” for either shabu or marijuana will be relieved from their assignment, charged administratively, and will be sent to a drug rehabilitation center.
The official acknowledged the effort of SPD Director Brigadier Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft in conducting an unannounced drug test on all his personnel.
This was after Kraft last Wednesday summoned all SPD Sub-Station Commanders and their deputies for a surprise random drug test held at the SPD headquarters.
The NCR Regional Forensic Unit (RFU), led by Lieutenant Col. Victor Drapete administered the drug test.
“Ako ay natutuwa sa naging hakbang ng Southern Police District na isailalim ang kanilang Sub-Station Commanders at Deputies sa random drug test bilang tugon sa kampanya ng ating SILG na linisin ang ating hanay mula sa mga pulis na gumagamit at involved sa ilegal na droga. Umaasa tayo na gaya ng mga naunang ginawang drug test sa ating mga kasama, silang lahat ay lalabas din na negatibo sa pag gamit ng ilegal na droga,” said Estomo.
