NPD ISSUES ULTIMATUM TO COPS HOOKED ON DRUGS

Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Marcelino
Franco Jr. has given only two options to cops hooked on illegal drugs --
submit themselves for rehabilitation or be dismissed from the police service.

Franco made the pronouncement after NPD personnel, randomly picked by the
district crime laboratory staff, underwent a surprise drug test on Friday
at the NPD Headquarters in Caloocan City.

Franco, who also submitted himself for testing, however, pointed out that
the police organization, his office in particular, is always willing to
give "misguided" cops a chance to renew their lives.

Senior Inspector Albert Arturo, the crime lab chemist, said that the result
of Friday's drug tests will be released after two to three days.

"We need to examine again those who will be found positive for illegal drug
use to make sure that the findings are correct," Arturo told The STAR.

As part of its fight against illegal drugs, the District Anti-Illegal
Drugs-Special Operations Group, headed by Chief Inspector Rafael Santiago,
is now preparing a draft proposal it would submit to government agencies to
make owners of warehouses used in illegal drug operations equally liable
with their tenants.

"That is part of our 'target hardening measure' in our fight against the
illegal drug trade," Franco stressed.

He noted that on several occasions, owners of warehouses suspected to be in
cahoots with illegal drug personalities, easily get off the hook just by
showing a contract of lease to the authorities, claiming that they don't
have control on the activities of their lessee.