NPD POLICE TAKE RANDOM DRUG TEST

As part of the cleansing process in the police and to ensure that cops
are drug-free, Northern Police District (NPD) director, Senior Supt.
Edgardo T. Ladao led members of the command group to undergo "random
drug testing" at the NPD headquarters.

The random drug testing was in relation to the NPD director's
directive of sustaining the aggressive and no let-up drive against
prohibited drugs in the Camanava area comprising the cities of
Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela, Ladao said.

The drug testing was held after a command conference the other day at
the NPD headquarters presided by Senior Supt. Wilson Amper, the NPD
deputy district director for operations.

Senior Supt. Roberto Villanueva, chief of the NPD directorial staff
said, said the conference was attended by all the NPD and Camanava
Police Station's anti-illegal drugs operatives.

All of the NPD's anti-illegal drugs operatives underwent random drug
testing which was administered by Supt. Filemon Porcioncula of the NPD
Crime Laboratory.

Under RA 9165, police personnel who fail the drug test will go through
the process of summary hearing and filing of criminal charges against
them.

The penalty of six months rehabilitation, which is being imposed to
civilians who are caught for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Law,
does not apply to narcotics agent. "Government officials, employees,
especially narcotics agents who are found positive for using illegal
drugs will be ineligible from any public office," Ladao said.

Ladao reiterated that the random drug testing was in accordance with
Article III, Section 36 (e) of the Republic Act (RA) 9165 also known
as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act, which requires officers and
members of the military, police and other law enforcement agencies to
undergo an annual mandatory drug test.

"In the police, we want to guarantee that our personnel will be
strictly drug-free so that their performance of duties and
responsibilities in terms of law enforcement particularly in
drug-related cases will not be tainted," the NPD director said.