Cop says he did not avoid drug test

CEBU, Philippines - A city policeman who allegedly refused to submit himself to a random drug test was relieved of his post pending investigation of the incident.

SPO1 Winston Isnani is temporarily assigned at the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) pending investigation of the Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch.

Isnani, who was assigned at the intelligence section of the Bogo City Police Station, reportedly avoided the random drug test conducted by CPPO last May 15.

Isnani said he was only catching up with a lawyer at the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City in relation to the case he was filing. He reportedly returned to the police station supposedly to submit himself to the test but he ran out of time.

“Nine to ten sa buntag mi nagpaabot pero medyo nadugay man unya timing pud nga naa ko kinahanglan lakwon nga mas importante,” Isnani told The FREEMAN in a phone interview.

Supt. Renato Malazarte, deputy provincial director for operation, also reportedly told him that they could no longer accommodate him for lack of time.

Isnani said he told Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador that he is still willing to submit himself to a drug test anytime to clear his name and erase doubts.

 “Daghan sad baya ko’g kaila ngara sa Bogo nauwaw ko naa ra ba ko’y pamilya ug mga anak,” he said.

Isnani suspects that his enemies are using the issue against him, especially that he tops the list of policemen in his police station with the most number of persons arrested.

For his part, Chief Insp. Ceferino Tabay, Bogo City police chief, also told The FREEMAN that Isnani was under his supervision for a few years now and he did not hear anything against him.

In terms of job performance, Tabay found no problem with Isnani.

“Disciplinarian ko sa akong mga sakop but di ta kabuot sa hunahunaon sa uban to think nibiya siya that time,” Tabay said.

Comendador subjected the personnel of Bogo City, Medellin, and San Remigio police stations in the north and the Dumanjug, Barili, Alcantara, and Moalboal police stations in the south to the test last May 15 and 16.

There were 113 policemen subjected to the drug test and all of them were found negative.

Comendador said that more random drug test will be conducted soon for the other police stations in the province. Two policemen were found positive of using drugs in last year's random drug test. One has been dismissed from service while the other is still facing investigation. — Ria Mae Y. Booc/JMO (THE FREEMAN)