At least nine policemen have tested positive during Friday’s surprise drug test in the Philippine National Police (PNP) that covered more than 2,400 policemen across the country.
No less than Director General Ronald dela Rosa, PNP chief, disclosed the result of the drug test performed by personnel of the national police’s crime laboratory.
But dela Rosa said confirmatory test will still have to be performed for the nine policemen whose urine tested positive for traces of illegal drugs during the surprise drug test as part of the process being observed in the police organization.
Once the confirmatory test has the same result, dela Rosa vowed to immediately kick them out of the police service.
“Our policy is zero-tolerance, they will be removed from the service and I will make sure that it will be fast,” said dela Rosa in an interview after his first Flag-Raising Ceremony as PNP chief at Camp Crame.
With the zero-tolerance policy, dela Rosa said having nine policemen testing positive for drugs is already alarming.
After his assumption of the top PNP post on Friday, dela Rosa immediately subjected himself to drug test to send a message that he is serious in the purging the police organization with personnel linked to illegal drugs.
Included in the surprise drug test late Friday afternoon where the newly-designated regional directors and other senior police officials who attended the first command conference with dela Rosa. (Aaron B. Recuenco)