BY AARON RECUENCO
Fourteen cops in Metro Manila are negative for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but they are still in hot water after they were found positive for illegal drugs use during a series of random tests.
Among them are two rookie cops identified as Patrolmen Lozano Buenavente and Guillermo Lagui who both tested positive for the use of shabu along with a female contractual civilian employee.
Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said the two cops and a female civilian employee were tested on August 30 after a dialogue on security preparations for COVID-19 and other security matters in Metro Manila.
After the meeting, all the 260 participants were ordered to be subjected to drug tests.
The urine samples were subjected to confirmatory and the result again of the three yielded positive for use of illegal substance.
The two cops were already relieved from their posts and are now facing criminal and administrative charges. The female civilian employee was already dismissed.
Sinas said investigation is now being conducted to determine the drug source of the three.
Twelve more policemen tested positive for illegal drugs since a random drug test was conducted in December last year.
They were identified as Lt. Rodel Torres; Staff Sgts. Ronald Carpio, Jonnel Torrebanca, Danbeth Geronga and Arthur Santos II; Corporals Jake Donato, Florian Peter Arboleda, Anthony Romano, Jose Rodericlk Basco, Patrolmen Jess Ranin, Casey Austria and Robert Buenavente.
Sinas said appropriate charges were filed against all the policemen who tested positive for illegal drugs use.
