DAD QUESTIONS CRIME LAB DRUG TEST RESULTS

A MEMBER of the General Santos City Council questioned last week the
integrity of the results of the drug testing being conducted at the Police
Regional Office (PRO) 12 crime laboratory.

Councilor Jose Mariano Gonzales said his own personal experience led him to
believe that anyone could cheat by just swapping the vials given to drivers
by laboratory technicians.

"When my driver's license expired, I have to renew it and I went to the
crime lab for a drug test. I was just given a bottle (vial) and I went to a
comfort room kaya sabi ko kung drug user ako (I thought if I am a drug
user), I can easily bring a vial with the urine of my friend and easily
switch it," Gonzales said.

The councilor took the issue in public during their regular session Thursday
when Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional director Efren
Alcuizar presented his report before the Council members.

Alcuizar, in his report, said the efforts of drug law enforcers are always
tied up with the crime laboratory where confiscated illegal drug items are
tested.

Alcuizar was surprised when Gonzales told the PDEA chief of the councilor's
experience.

"Hindi dapat ganon 'yan kung talagang nangyayari ito sa crime lab (That
situation should not happen at the crime laboratory)," said Alcuizar.

Gonzales wants PDEA help to look into the system now being followed by the
crime laboratory personnel in drug testing to ensure true results of its
laboratory examinations. MFV