141 cops face dismissal after testing positive for drug use

A total of 141 policemen are facing possible dismissal from the service after testing positive for drug use.

Chief Superintendent Leo Angelo Leuterio, head of the PNP-Internal Affairs Service (IAS), said charges have been filed against the 141 policemen.

They are now charged with grave misconduct by violation of the anti-drugs law, Leuterio said.

He added that 57 of the policemen are already undergoing summary dismissal proceedings.

Leuterio said 114 of the 141 drug-positive policemen are ranked Police Officer 1.

The drug-positive policemen also include three junior officers ranked Inspector, Senior Inspector and Chief Inspector, 18 were ranked senior police officers and the rest were Police Officer 2 and Police Officer 3.

Leuterio said that those charged tested positive in confirmatory tests, which is done after a policeman tests positive in the initial mandatory drug test.

Lifestyle check

Meanwhile, the police official said that they will also subject each policemen to a lifestyle check to determine their extent of involvement in drugs.

We want to know if their lifestyle falls under their income. For instance, how can a rookie policemen drive several cars and send his children to private schools when his income is only coming from his job," Leuterio said. "We want to know everything from where they live and if they have businesses, where did they get the money to start their business. These are just but some of the focuses of our lifestyle check.

Leuterio said at least 10 policemen are currently being subjected to lifestyle check.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa ordered the mandatory drug testing on the 170,000-strong police organization as part of the government's drive against illegal drugs.

A few days after assuming office, President Rodrigo Duterte named five retired and active high-ranking police officials allegedly involved in drugs.

Last month, the National Police Commission filed formal charges against two of the police officials.

Former National Capital Region Police Officer chief Director Joel Pagdilao and former Quezon City Police District Office director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio were charged with serious neglect of duty, serious irregularities in the performance of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

The three other police officials named by Duterte were former Chief Superintendent and now Daangbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot, Director Bernardo Diaz and former Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo.













source:gmanews