COPS WHO FAIL DRUG TEST TO BE CHARGED

Policemen who fail their drug test could be charged with violating the
Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002, Philippine National Police chief, Director
General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., warned on Friday.

Ebdane told reporters at a press conference at his office in Camp Crame that
the PNP has compiled a list of suspected drug users that includes senior and
junior officers. These men, he added, will have until June 9 to undergo a
mandatory drug test.

The list, he explained, was compiled by the various police regional and
district commanders and submitted to his office. According to Ebdane, junior
officers outnumbered senior officers as suspected drug users.

Ebdane also stressed that the number of policemen using illegal drugs was
less than one percent of the 114,000-man police force.

"The figure is too small to affect the PNP," he said.

The PNP chief, however, declined to identify those included on the list,
saying that these policemen would be given an opportunity to admit to using
illegal drugs and undergo rehabilitation. Those who refuse or try to hide
their drug dependency could be charged, Ebdane said.