195 cops positive for shabu use

Almost 200 members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have tested positive for drug use, particularly shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), a police official said Tuesday.

Superintendent Irene Rigunan of the PNP Crime Laboratory said 188 uniformed men and seven civilian employees tested positive during random drug tests conducted between January 2016 and January 2017.

“Pinakamataas [na nag-pos- itive] is from region 4A ( Calabarzon) at susunod sa NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office). Ang pinaka-ranking po is chief inspector at lowest ay PO1 ( Police Officer 1). Mas marami ang PNCO (Police non- commissioned officer) kesa ‘ yung officials,” Rigunan said.

(The highest number came from region 4A, followed by NCRPO. Among those found positive, the highest rank is chief inspector while the lowest is PO1. There are more PNCOs than officials.)

Rigunan said the result of the drug tests were forwarded to the PNP-Internal Affairs Service (IAS) for the proper disposition of the police personnel.

In November 2016, PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa ordered the dismissal of 174 police officers after they tested positive for illegal drugs use.

Dela Rosa said he wanted the dismissal of the erring policemen to go through a proper process before the IAS to ensure they would not be reinstated due to some technicalities. /