BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, August 15 (PIA) --- No second thoughts of dismissal from service awaits police personnel caught involved in illegal drugs either as user, pusher or coddler is the stern warning reiterated by a top official of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7).
Chief of staff of the PRO-7 Regional Directorial Staff, Sr. Supt Edward Carranza said anti-illegal drugs is a major thrust and that not only are they implementing an aggressive campaign through the conduct of drug raids, they are also doing internal cleansing within the ranks to rid the institution of bad eggs.
“We are conducting surprise drug tests among police offices,” as part of the internal cleansing, said Carranza during the recent “Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ (TSIP) Forum.
Deputy chief of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, P/Supt. Henry Biñas in the same forum bared 27 policemen have been dismissed from service from 2011 to 2013 due to their involvement in illegal drugs. Most of these cops were users, said Biñas.
“Currently, there are eight police personnel that have pending administrative cases before our office,” said Biñas.
Meanwhile, around eight percent of the entire police force in Central Visayas has undergone the surprise drug tests as of August 4, this year, said P/Supt. Rex Derilo, deputy chief of the Regional Intelligence Division.
Derilo said there are over 8,000 police personnel in the region and 687 of the total figure have already been subjected to the surprise random drug test.
According to Derilo, seven tested positive of drug use while a confirmatory test needed to be done to find out the exact result.
Derilo said the PRO-7 is implementing a five-point strategy in implementing the anti-illegal drug strategy. These strategies are supply reduction, demand reduction, internal cleansing, legal offensive and domestic and international cooperation. (mbcn/FCR/PIA7)