A policeman assigned in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental who was arrested during a drug buy-bust operation in that southern city last week, was found positive of the prohibited drug, methamphetamine hydrochloride, popularly known as shabu.{{more}}
Test results released by the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, headed by Chief Insp. Josephine Llena, indicated that traces of methamphetamine hydrochloride were found in the urine sample of PO2 Victorio Rizaldo, said provincial police director Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas on Wednesday.
The initial result of the drug screening of Rizaldo will be subject for confirmation by the PNP Region 7 Office, even as Lawas said this will impact on the administrative complaint to be filed against him.
Rizaldo is now behind bars after he was charged with illegal drug possession, illegal drug peddling, and illegal possession of firearms, ammunitions and explosives, along with civilian Florante Bayabado Taburada and Bayawan City police auxiliary Renwil Cadungog, following a drug buy-bust operation by Task Force Kasaligan last week.
On the other hand, a total of 137 police personnel from the Bayawan City police station, graduates of the recently concluded PNP Intelligence Course, and those who attended the anti-drug forum sponsored by the Salonga Law Center of Silliman University, all yielded negative results in the random screening.
This is a welcome development for the PNP in Negros Oriental, according to Lawas, who has repeatedly warned that police personnel found to be engaged in the illegal use or selling of drugs shall be sanctioned accordingly.
Lawas also disclosed that he already instructed the Negros Oriental PNP administrative officer to submit to the PRO-7 a recommendation for the suspension of Rizaldoí¢â‚¬â„¢s salary as a standard operating procedure.
Meanwhile, Director General Ager Ontog, PNP Region 7 director, said on Wednesday that members of police auxiliary units should also undergo regular drug tests.
Ontog was in Negros Oriental to attend the closing of the 8-day PNP intelligence course and the opening of the Back-to-Basics Course for police personnel assigned in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.
He, however, admitted that lack of resources have hampered even the mandated quarterly drug tests for regular police personnel, thus the organization can only hold random drug screening when needed and when drug testing kits are available. (PNA/JFP)
