PNP personnel in Bicol region undergo random drug testing

By Connie Calipay

Some 372 personnel of the Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5), including officers in the regional headquarters, submitted themselves for drug testing on May 18.

In an interview, Maj. Malu Calubaquib, PRO-5 spokesperson, said the regional headquarters together with the provincial offices conducted a surprise random drug testing initiated by Brig. Gen. Mario Reyes, PRO-5 director, to both the uniformed and non-uniformed personnel.

She said the results were expected to be released the following day by the Regional Forensic Unit.

“The surprise drug testing had been implemented during the accounting of personnel and checking of attendance on Wednesday,” she said.

The surprise test was conducted under Article 3 Sec. 36 Paragraph (e) of the Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 mandating officers and employees of public offices to undergo random testing to ensure that government agencies remain drug-free.

“This is to monitor every personnel and maintain the trust of the public, to show and ensure that personnel of PRO-5 are drug-free, and the anti-illegal drugs campaign is not only limited to the people in the community, but also to the personnel who execute and implement the laws,” Calubaquib said.

She noted that the random drug testing is expected to be done quarterly.

“This drug testing is only one of the manifestations of our commitment to make it certain that our personnel do not engage in the illicit use of drugs. As it is true that we want to make our community drug-free and as implementers of the law, we must be the first to follow it, hence this random drug testing,” Brig. Gen. Mario Reyes, PRO-5 regional director, said in a statement. (PNA)