All 436 policemen negative for drugs

CAMP VICENTE ALAGAR, Cagayan de

Oro City: All 436 police personnel at the regional police headquarters here have been cleared of using illegal drugs.

LtCol. Michelle S. Olaivar, police regional spokesperson, said that all police personnel had been subjected to random drug testing on January 24.

She said the results were released by the regional crime laboratory on Friday and no one had tested positive for illegal drug use.

Last year, four policemen were charged administratively and dismissed from service after they tested positive for drugs during a similar surprise drug testing.

In a statement, BGen. Benjamin Acorda, police regional director in Northern Mindanao, said that the surprise drug tests were initiated to make sure that the police regional command is drug free.

He said that the undertaking was also meant to maintain the trust of the public and to assure that our personnel were monitored from time to time to prevent the use of illegal substances among policemen.

Acorda said that Republic Act 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” provides that officers and employees of public offices shall undergo random drug testing.